Health security is threatened at the individual, community,
national, and international levels by conditions of rapid
urbanization, natural disasters, violence, and conflicts.
Rapid urbanization creates conditions in which the use
of alcohol and other psychoactive substances increases.
Violence and conflicts often increase harmful use of alcohol
or drugs and, vice versa, alcohol and drug use disorders
are associated with violence and criminal behaviour. In
many emergencies – whether caused by natural disasters,
violence, or war – the prevalence of mental distress and
disorders rises and the capacity of formal and non-formal
systems of care decreases markedly, which results not
only in enormous suffering and disability but also in
delayed recovery and rebuilding efforts.