Organizations set up in various parts of the world to carry on research work and provide training in all phases of the alcohol problem. Sponsored by the National Committees for the Prevention of Alcoholism in the respective countries, these institutes carry on educational programs for the prevention of alcoholism through publications, films, forums, and radio and television programs.
Educationally, the institute conducts sessions at which instruction is given on the graduate level. The institute course of study is not designed primarily for the layman, though many civic-minded laymen attend the courses; it is intended for people on the professional level, such as teachers, educators, law-enforcement officials, public and mental health leaders, physicians, editors, social and welfare workers, and religious leaders.
Each session consists of lectures, discussion periods, seminars, forums, workshops, and field trips. Nationally and internationally known authorities lecture in their special fields. The scientific facts and basic information gained qualify the graduates of the sessions to work more effectively toward the prevention of alcoholism. In some of the sessions the students receive graduate university credit for their study. Selected lectures are transcribed and made available for permanent reference, and basic materials are published in reprint form for professional use.
The first Institute of Scientific Studies was established in 1950 at Loma Linda, California, at the Loma Linda University medical school. Since that time more than 1,000 students have pursued the annual course of study offered by that institute. In 1961 this institute began to offer a unique annual service to professional groups, the first Medical Seminar on Alcoholism being conducted that year in Los Angeles and in the same year the first in-service training workshop for public school teachers.
The second institute, established at American University in Washington, D.C., in 1956, became known as the Washington Institute of Scientific Studies.
The All-European Institute, sponsored by the European Bloc of the International Commission in cooperation with the International Bureau Against Alcoholism, was launched in 1955. Its first four sessions were held in Geneva, with subsequent sessions being held in various cities, including Vienna, Paris, Lausanne, Warsaw, London, Amsterdam, and Oslo. This organization is now called the International Council on Alcohol and Alcohol Addicts. The ICPA, apart from this cooperation, conducts seminars in the European area.
The All-Asian Institute, sponsored by the Southern Asia Bloc of the International Commission, was launched in 1956, and was conducted on the Wilson College campus in Bombay, India. Many prominent Indian leaders serve on the institute committee and take part in seminars.
The Australian Institute, plans for the launching of which were laid at the organizational meeting of the Australian National Committee on Oct. 13, 1958, conducted its first session on the medical college campus of the University of Sydney, Jan. 18–29, 1960.
The South African National Committee was organized on Sept. 14, 1959. Its first session was conducted on the campus of the Witwatersrand University, Jan. 2–13, 1961.
The first session of the Philippine Institute, conducted under the auspices of the Philippine National Committee, was conducted on the campus of the University of the Philippines, Apr. 10–21, 1961. This committee has continued to hold annual institutes and seminars throughout the Philippines with great success.
Other national institutes and seminars as a part of the ICPA program have been held in Mauritius, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Malagasy, Turkey, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Israel, Iran, Zambia, Central African Republic, Togo, Brazil, and Yugoslavia. The First World Congress of the ICPA was held in Afghanistan in 1972.