Category: News

YAN Sri Lanka was launched as the youth wing of ADIC. It is a youth run and youth monitored network for development of youth through, alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention. It consists of District teams (25) which has 75 directors (3 directors per district) led by a Chairperson, Vice Chair and 2 Secretaries. Currently the directors manage 221 members island-wide. Apart from this there are other YAN teams for specific groups (university, young professionals, music etc.).

YAN Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural, multi lingual youth network. These youth work with other youth at the grassroot level towards alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention through activism in various aligned fields such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) prevention, democracy, human rights, gender equality.

So far, the YAN team has done several campaigns including for the No Tobacco Day on May 31s and International Youth Day. Follow the YAN journey on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/YANYOUTH/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/yan_sri_lanka/ and twitter https://twitter.com/action_sri

“In year 2018, Presidential Secretariat, Presidential Task Force, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and other government, non-government organizations and civil society groups have shown an increased enthusiasm and commitment towards controlling alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in communities. However, Ministry of Finance have maintained a pro-industry attitude during the year which has undermined the efforts on controlling use due to enforcement of wrong taxation policy on alcohol and tobacco… ”

Read more about the status and what has happened in 2018, in attached report.

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A new study using blood tests and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have found smoking to accelerate ageing. Baltimore based AI solutions company Insilico Medicine carried out the research based on blood profiles of 149 000 adults, of whom 33% (49 000) reported to be smokers. The researchers combined an age-prediction model using a technique called deep learning and various biochemical markers among the participants. These included levels of blood sugar, fasting glucose, iron stores and urea, a waste product excreted in urine.

The findings suggest smokers in their twenties to be biologically up to two decades older. Smokers between ages of 31-40 were predicted to be about a decade older than their age.

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The following article was published in the Mawbima Newspaper (page 5) on the 7th of December 2018.

The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2008 is “Tobacco and heart disease”. This year NATA made partnership with ADIC and disseminated No Tobacco Day theme posters Island wide. This year mainly ADIC approach was mainly focused on empowering shop owners to stop selling cigarettes in their shops and to make tobacco free towns and villages.

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A town campaign was held on 31st July at Kiribathgoda area informing a large amount of shopkeepers to quit selling cigarettes in their shops. This included distribution of stickers, leaflets and displaying banners on Tobacco prevention. Secretary of the ‘National sangha council” Rev. Ananda Sagara thero,The president thero of the Mahara “Pradeshiya shasanarakshaka bala mandalaya”, National drug prevention unit Officers, Officers of the Excise department, Police officers of the Kiribathgoda police Station, Public Health Inspectors and Divisional council officers participated in this event encouraging tobacco prevention.

Data collection for 2018 SPOT Survey has been concluded in 11 districts. More than 2500 individuals has been interviewed across Hambanthota, Matale, Monaragala, Mannar, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Puttalam, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, Kalutara and Colombo districts. ADIC SPOT survey is an annual survey to study Tobacco and Alcohol usage trend in the country.

The IOGT INTERNATIONAL WORLD CONGRESS 69 takes place from 6th to 11th of August 2018 at Sigtuna, Sweden. The congress permits participants to share their experiences and to listen and learn from inspiring leaders around the world. The congress offers an exciting program of youth assembly sessions, congress plenary sessions and seminars and workshops covering diverse range of topics. This includes discussions exploring global issues through innovative and effective methods. ADIC chairman, executive director and few other members participated in the following events of the Congress. This is held every fourth year to assess the work of the previous period and to decide on new plans, policies and to elect the International Board. The World Congress elects the International Board: one International President (IP), one International Vice President (IVP) and up to seven Board Members. The International Board appoints from its membership an Administrative Committee (AC). It is the International Board who leads IOGT International, according to the priorities and guidelines determined by the Member Organizations.