(NEWS) WMU Research Referenced in USA National Drug Control Strategy

May

2022

WMU Research Referenced in USA National Drug Control Strategy

The World Maritime University (WMU) is pleased to note that research efforts under its PhD programme are referenced in the “National Drug Control Strategy” recently released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which is a component of the Executive Office of the President of the United States of America (USA). Specifically, the National Drug Control Strategy cites the open access book chapter authored by Dr. Adriana Ávila-Zúñiga-Nordfjeld and Professor Dimitrios Dalaklis entitled “Enhancing Maritime Security in Mexico: Privatization, Militarization, or a combination of both?”

The mission of ONDCP is to reduce substance use disorder and its consequences by coordinating the USA’s drug control policy, through the development and oversight of the National Drug Control Strategy and Budget. This Strategy is the product of a rigorous process led by the ONDCP in close collaboration with the 18 National Drug Control Agencies. In developing this Strategy, the Biden-Harris Administration sought the input of more than 2,000 leaders and stakeholders including the entirety of the Congress; all 50 Governors; and advocates representing public safety, public health, community groups, local governments, and Tribal communities. While transmitting this document to Congress, President Joseph R. Biden highlighted that: “This inaugural Strategy proposes bold, targeted, and consequential actions to bend the curve on overdose deaths in the immediate term and reduce drug use and its damaging consequences over the longer term. These actions are based on the best science, evidence, and data available”.

Specifically, pages 87-88 address the topic of "Support Mexico’s efforts to strengthen its counter-drug institutions and initiatives," and reference is made to the conclusions/recommendations of the WMU open access publication “Enhancing Maritime Security in Mexico: Privatization, Militarization, or a combination of both?”.

WMU has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary research at the doctoral level, and has won a large number of externally funded projects, often working in collaboration with partners from industry and government. The structure of the PhD programme makes it flexible and responsive to the needs of full-time students based in Malmö, as well as for candidates based mainly in their home countries. Graduates of the programme follow a truly diversified career path. For example, Dr. Nordfjeld, who successfully completed the WMU PhD programme under the supervision of Professor Dalaklis, now serves as Associate Senior Lecturer in Defence Systems at the prestigious Swedish Defence University.

WMU’s PhD programme offers students the opportunity to carry out research across a wide range of priority areas in the maritime and oceans fields, while at the same time highlighting the link to the International Maritime Organization’s mission of maritime safety, security and marine environmental protection. The PhD programme offers unrivalled access to international maritime experts both inside and outside academia, and to organizations working at the forefront of research and development. PhD candidates come to WMU from industry, academia and the government sector, and complete their dissertations in a very wide range of subject areas. More information about WMU’s PhD programme can be found here.

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