This conference examined the systems concerned in the prevention of drug misuse. Minister Liz McManus describeshow the "First Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Measures to Reduce the Demand forDrugs "(October, 1996) recognised drug misuse as a "cross-cutting issue", involving anapproach which can bring together all relevant agencies and interests to work together.Joint Systems Approaches focus on the systems and the patterns of interaction. Systems are in constant inter-relationships with each other.

Bringing systems together, with the wealth of literature available within each, brings a rich cross-fertilisation and presents an alternative theoretical framework to the linear model. Robbie Gilligan in his presentation, pointed out the many difficulties involved for professionals in working together. Pat Dolan explained that it was very important for services not to undermine the natural helpers, such as family, friends, or peers. The Social Network Map is one tool can be used to avoid this Annemie de Loose from Belgium offered a definition of a network as "a way of co-operating in which the participants give up part of their autonomy out of respect for the other's work and, in doing so, increase their own influence." We learned from Jack Houlahan described the situation in Northern Ireland, where the divisions between purchaser and provider have led to competition among agencies, rather than cooperation,and protection of ideas, rather than sharing of vision and plans.