Summary of Closing Remarks |
Dr. Nelba Chavez, the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, warmly thanked the conference's leadership and expert participants from both Mexico and the United States who worked so hard to make the meeting a success. She stated that the participants have not only laid the foundation but have also created a framework for dealing with our nations' shared concern about drug abuse. It is very clear, Dr. Chavez emphasized, that we have a lot of work to do to continue down the avenues that this meeting has so ably paved. She noted that many meetings end with the participants simply feeling good about the energy and enthusiasm that was shown and the exciting interactions that occurred, but afterwards, little occurs. However, she expressed confidence that that is not going to happen this time because this is a powerful group of leaders in all areas, not only education, treatment, and prevention, but also in the community.
Dr. Chavez told the audience that, as leaders, it is our responsibility to follow-up on the common agenda we have agreed upon. Too often, she noted, as we go our separate ways we take paths that bring us into conflict, but this is an outcome that we can no longer afford. Instead, she proposed that the tremendous energy, commitment, and enthusiasm we have generated at this conference must fuel our future vision.
Dr. Chavez outlined several concrete future steps to ensure action. The first of these is publishing the proceedings of this conference in both English and Spanish to summarize our deliberations, so they can be made widely available in both countries. She noted that this meeting and each of its recommendations mark the beginning of a process as well as a challenge to us as leaders, to seize the opportunities for progress created by the wonderful discussions that have occurred.
Dr. Chavez concluded by noting that real progress will not be measured in what was done here, but by what we do when we return to our institutions and local communities. We are responsible for keeping the spirit of collaboration alive and ensuring that our shared goals are achieved through long-term commitment and much work.
Ms. Haydée Rosovsky, the Director of the National Council on Addictions of the Mexican Ministry of Health, also thanked those involved in making the conference a success -- the participants as well as the many supporting staff -- for their invaluable contributions. She noted that crossing the national and cultural ideological borders that separate us is far more difficult than crossing a geographical border. However, she praised the spirit that exists within and between the U.S. and Mexico today as one of mutual respect and a sincere desire to cooperate. She declared that this is a marvelous achievement one cannot always be certain will occur at a meeting like this and pointed out that the large attendance at the closing session is an indication of the shared enthusiasm.
Ms. Rosovsky further suggested that the conference achieved its two major purposes. The first of these, she noted, was to provide a follow-up to the political mandate of our respective governments and transform a shared political intention into a practical reality. The second was to transform this intention into the technical and professional plans needed to have an impact on actual practices in our respective communities. Ms. Rosovsky noted that she shared with Dr. Chavez the fervent hope that the energy and enthusiasm generated at this meeting will be transformed into enduring progress through mutual cooperation on shared initiatives.
Dr. Hoover Adger, Jr., Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, closed the conference by concurring with the previous two speakers that the success of this meeting will be measured in terms of its outcomes.
On behalf of ONDCP Director McCaffrey, Dr. Adger noted that the participants did a tremendous job for which an enormous debt of gratitude is certainly due. The opportunity to share and communicate with one another was on a level that will certainly help us to take significant steps toward a still higher level.
Dr. Adger concluded his remarks by noting that despite our many differences, our two nations have many commonalities. The one thing that truly binds us together is our mutual concern for our families and our communities. As he stated, the U.S. and Mexico share a strong desire to work together in ways that will ensure a brighter future on both sides of the border.
Finally, Dr. Adger said that having had the opportunity to watch the planning group work over many months made it particularly satisfying to see the hard work culminate in such a successful enterprise. On behalf of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, he again thanked everyone who made the meeting so successful.
