ABSTRACT
The Political Declaration adopted at the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 1998 called upon business and union leadership among others to actively promote a society free of drugs1. The inclusion of these social partners in this call to action was significant because it tacitly acknowledged that, outside the family, work is the most significant social system in most people’s lives and that more focused efforts on prevention in special populations or the workplace are more effective than general prevention campaigns. It also reflected recognition of the growing societal importance of private firms and industry as well as public service employers in this endeavour.
