JUNE 26 – INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND
ILLICIT TRAFFICKING
ജൂണ് 26 ലോക ലഹരി വിരുദ്ധ ദിനം .
The 26th of June International Day against Drug Abuse and
Illicit Trafficking was established by the United Nations in 1987. In its 2006
edition, the UNODC launched an anti-drugs campaign entitled "Do drugs
control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs."
This three-years campaign focuses on different aspects of drug control: drug abuse in 2007, drug cultivation and production in 2008, and illicit drug trafficking in 2009. The campaign's goal is to raise people's awareness and mobilize support for drug control. The campaign only focuses on drugs subject to control, as specified in the three multilateral drug treaties that form the backbone of the international drug control system, which include amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), coca/cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates, and sedative hypnotics. The international drug control system, based on three main Treaties, has been in continuous evolution since 1961. June 1998, when the 20th UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) convened in New York to debate the world drug problem, marked a critical new juncture in the global fight against drugs and set the agenda for international drug control on the eve of the 21st century, on the basis of three key documents: a political declaration, the declaration on the guiding principle of drugs demand reduction and a five-part resolution with action plans to enhance international cooperation. In adopting the political declaration, UN Member States committed themselves to achieving measurable results in reducing the illicit supply and demand for drugs by 2008. They were also asked to adapt their national drug strategies accordingly and report to the CND (UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs) on their progress in meeting UNGASS targets. Monitoring instruments were developed.
The UNGASS debate is taking place since then, the objective being that the international community would assess the efficiency of the system in place and the measures taken - based on objective data and evidences- and will decide on the follow-up to the UNGASS 1998 process and on the future of the international counternarcotics system during the high-level segment of the 52nd CND in 2009.
The EU has constructively participated in the UNGASS debate and working groups and, since September 2007, has been working on a common position to be on the table for the 2009 CND, thus demonstrating to be a fundamental actor in the world's fight against drugs and that the "European model" is efficient and a good example to follow. The EU Drugs Strategy (2005-2012) endorsed in December 2004 by the European Council, is an integral part of the multi-annual programme "The Hague Programme' for strengthening freedom, security and justice in the EU[1]". It is based on the fundamental principles of EU law and upholds the founding values of the Union: respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, solidarity, the rule of law and human rights. It aims to protect and improve the well-being of society and of the individual, to protect public health, to offer a high level of security for the general public and to take a balanced, integrated approach to the drugs problem.
This three-years campaign focuses on different aspects of drug control: drug abuse in 2007, drug cultivation and production in 2008, and illicit drug trafficking in 2009. The campaign's goal is to raise people's awareness and mobilize support for drug control. The campaign only focuses on drugs subject to control, as specified in the three multilateral drug treaties that form the backbone of the international drug control system, which include amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), coca/cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates, and sedative hypnotics. The international drug control system, based on three main Treaties, has been in continuous evolution since 1961. June 1998, when the 20th UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) convened in New York to debate the world drug problem, marked a critical new juncture in the global fight against drugs and set the agenda for international drug control on the eve of the 21st century, on the basis of three key documents: a political declaration, the declaration on the guiding principle of drugs demand reduction and a five-part resolution with action plans to enhance international cooperation. In adopting the political declaration, UN Member States committed themselves to achieving measurable results in reducing the illicit supply and demand for drugs by 2008. They were also asked to adapt their national drug strategies accordingly and report to the CND (UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs) on their progress in meeting UNGASS targets. Monitoring instruments were developed.
The UNGASS debate is taking place since then, the objective being that the international community would assess the efficiency of the system in place and the measures taken - based on objective data and evidences- and will decide on the follow-up to the UNGASS 1998 process and on the future of the international counternarcotics system during the high-level segment of the 52nd CND in 2009.
The EU has constructively participated in the UNGASS debate and working groups and, since September 2007, has been working on a common position to be on the table for the 2009 CND, thus demonstrating to be a fundamental actor in the world's fight against drugs and that the "European model" is efficient and a good example to follow. The EU Drugs Strategy (2005-2012) endorsed in December 2004 by the European Council, is an integral part of the multi-annual programme "The Hague Programme' for strengthening freedom, security and justice in the EU[1]". It is based on the fundamental principles of EU law and upholds the founding values of the Union: respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, solidarity, the rule of law and human rights. It aims to protect and improve the well-being of society and of the individual, to protect public health, to offer a high level of security for the general public and to take a balanced, integrated approach to the drugs problem.
The Strategy sets the framework, objectives
and priorities for all drug-related activities in the EU by means of two
consecutive four-year Drug Action Plans to be brought forward by the
Commission. Implementation of most of the activities is the responsibility of
the Member States; the Community plays a coordination role and has a
complementary role (e.g. in public health) or a specific mandate on some issues
(e.g. prevention of the diversion of chemical precursors used for the
manufacturing of illicit drugs and the prevention of money laundering). Depending on historical background, traditions and
development patterns in the drug market, drug use and the health and social
harms associated with drug dependence varies between Member States.
Nonetheless, all EU Member States have formulated and implemented national drug
policies that - with different levels of success - seem to be increasingly
successful in reducing the most serious health and social damages associated
with drug use. The EU Drug Strategy
(2005-2012) continues to be the overarching framework for the on going
evaluation of the current EU Action Plan on Drugs (2005-2008) and for a new EU
Action Plan on Drugs covering the period from 2009 to 2012. The new EU Action
Plan on Drugs covering the period from 2009 to 2012 together with the
conclusions of the final evaluation are to be presented in the Communication on
an EU Action Plan on Drugs (2009-2012), which is scheduled for adoption in
September 2008. The objective of the
Eurobarometer survey is to study young citizens' attitudes and perceptions
about the issues of drugs. Interviews were conducted to over 12,000 randomly
selected young people (15-24 years - of- age) in the twenty-seven Member States
of the European Union by telephone interviews between 14 May and 18 May 2008,
around the following questions:
Becoming more informed about illicit drugs and drug use: Almost two-thirds (61%) of young people in the EU27 who responded said they would use the Internet to get information about illicit drugs and drug use in general; only in Cyprus and Greece did figures fall below 50%. There was a great similarity across Member States, with many young people opting for similar sources (the Internet, a friend, parents, a health professional or drugs counsellor). These preferences would be at the expense of potential contact with the police, social workers and a telephone helpline. However, despite the above findings, which referred to methods that theoretically might be used, the Internet (35%) was not actually the channel most frequently consulted to find out about drug-related issues. More use was made of media campaigns (46%) and school prevention programmes (39%).
Perceived health risks of using drugs: The young people that participated in the survey made a distinction between the health risks of using heroin, cocaine and ecstasy and the risks of using cannabis. Between 81% and 96% of respondents thought heroin, cocaine and ecstasy pose a high risk, while almost 41% of young people thought cannabis pose a high risk, and 43% thought cannabis poses a medium risk, somewhat similar to the risk perceived with tobacco smoking. Of the respondents, 70% thought the smoking of tobacco poses a medium to low health risk, while 75% thought alcohol poses a medium to low risk. For ecstasy and cannabis, Czech respondents stood out with only 37% and 17%, respectively, associating high health risks with these illicit drugs. Young Czechs thought tobacco (20%) and alcohol (18%) posed a slightly higher risk than cannabis (17%). Romanians were the most likely to say that alcohol or tobacco, (37% and 42%, respectively), posed a high health risk. How should society's drug problems be tackled: The 15-24 year olds in the survey seem to support the EU's balanced approach in drug policy by advocating tough measures to be taken against drug dealers and traffickers (63%) but also advocating "soft" measures to be used against drug users, e.g. through information and prevention campaigns (47%) and the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders (33%) as opposed to tough measures against drug users (23%). Exceptions were Estonia, Latvia, Hungary and the Netherlands, where tough measures against drug users were considered to be more effective than treatment and rehabilitation.
To ban or regulate illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco: There was a consensus that heroine, cocaine and ecstasy should continue to be banned: 97% for heroin, 95% for cocaine and 94% for ecstasy. Only a very small minority would regulate one or more of these substances (3% for heroin, 4% for cocaine and 5% for ecstasy). However there were major differences in opinions relating to the use of cannabis: two-thirds (67%) of young people wanted to continue the ban and 31% wanted to bring in regulation, similar to what is custom for alcohol and tobacco. When asked if cannabis should continue to be banned young people in Romania, Sweden, and Cyprus supported a continued ban on cannabis (91%, 89%, and 84% respectively). On the other hand, respondents e.g. from the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Spain and the UK said the sale and consumption of cannabis should be regulated (53%, resp. 52%, 41% and 40%).
Access to illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco: Among all respondents, heroin was seen to be the most difficult illicit drug to obtain followed by cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis. Among 35% of them considered cocaine to be easy or very accessible, with high accessibility in Ireland (58%) and the UK (51%) and the lowest availability in Finland (9%) and Romania (19%). Cannabis was considered to be the most easily accessible: nearly two out of three respondents (63%) thought it would be fairly easy to very easy for them to acquire cannabis, with greatest availability in Spain (85%), the Czech Republic (83%) and Denmark (73%) and lowest availability in Cyprus (38%), Finland (38%) and Sweden (42%). Moreover 72% of 15-18 year-olds thought it would be easy to very easy for them to get hold of tobacco compared to 87% of 22-24 year olds and more than nine out of 10 respondents in all Member States (except Cyprus) said it would be easy for them to obtain alcohol, only 83% of respondents in Cyprus said it would be easy.
The 15-18 year-olds were the ones thinking it would be very or fairly difficult for them to get hold of illicit drugs, while the 19-24 year-olds most often expected it to be very or fairly easy to obtain them. Moreover, just under half (47%) of rural residents said it would be very difficult to acquire heroin, compared to 39% of urban residents and 40% of metropolitan residents.
Becoming more informed about illicit drugs and drug use: Almost two-thirds (61%) of young people in the EU27 who responded said they would use the Internet to get information about illicit drugs and drug use in general; only in Cyprus and Greece did figures fall below 50%. There was a great similarity across Member States, with many young people opting for similar sources (the Internet, a friend, parents, a health professional or drugs counsellor). These preferences would be at the expense of potential contact with the police, social workers and a telephone helpline. However, despite the above findings, which referred to methods that theoretically might be used, the Internet (35%) was not actually the channel most frequently consulted to find out about drug-related issues. More use was made of media campaigns (46%) and school prevention programmes (39%).
Perceived health risks of using drugs: The young people that participated in the survey made a distinction between the health risks of using heroin, cocaine and ecstasy and the risks of using cannabis. Between 81% and 96% of respondents thought heroin, cocaine and ecstasy pose a high risk, while almost 41% of young people thought cannabis pose a high risk, and 43% thought cannabis poses a medium risk, somewhat similar to the risk perceived with tobacco smoking. Of the respondents, 70% thought the smoking of tobacco poses a medium to low health risk, while 75% thought alcohol poses a medium to low risk. For ecstasy and cannabis, Czech respondents stood out with only 37% and 17%, respectively, associating high health risks with these illicit drugs. Young Czechs thought tobacco (20%) and alcohol (18%) posed a slightly higher risk than cannabis (17%). Romanians were the most likely to say that alcohol or tobacco, (37% and 42%, respectively), posed a high health risk. How should society's drug problems be tackled: The 15-24 year olds in the survey seem to support the EU's balanced approach in drug policy by advocating tough measures to be taken against drug dealers and traffickers (63%) but also advocating "soft" measures to be used against drug users, e.g. through information and prevention campaigns (47%) and the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders (33%) as opposed to tough measures against drug users (23%). Exceptions were Estonia, Latvia, Hungary and the Netherlands, where tough measures against drug users were considered to be more effective than treatment and rehabilitation.
To ban or regulate illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco: There was a consensus that heroine, cocaine and ecstasy should continue to be banned: 97% for heroin, 95% for cocaine and 94% for ecstasy. Only a very small minority would regulate one or more of these substances (3% for heroin, 4% for cocaine and 5% for ecstasy). However there were major differences in opinions relating to the use of cannabis: two-thirds (67%) of young people wanted to continue the ban and 31% wanted to bring in regulation, similar to what is custom for alcohol and tobacco. When asked if cannabis should continue to be banned young people in Romania, Sweden, and Cyprus supported a continued ban on cannabis (91%, 89%, and 84% respectively). On the other hand, respondents e.g. from the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Spain and the UK said the sale and consumption of cannabis should be regulated (53%, resp. 52%, 41% and 40%).
Access to illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco: Among all respondents, heroin was seen to be the most difficult illicit drug to obtain followed by cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis. Among 35% of them considered cocaine to be easy or very accessible, with high accessibility in Ireland (58%) and the UK (51%) and the lowest availability in Finland (9%) and Romania (19%). Cannabis was considered to be the most easily accessible: nearly two out of three respondents (63%) thought it would be fairly easy to very easy for them to acquire cannabis, with greatest availability in Spain (85%), the Czech Republic (83%) and Denmark (73%) and lowest availability in Cyprus (38%), Finland (38%) and Sweden (42%). Moreover 72% of 15-18 year-olds thought it would be easy to very easy for them to get hold of tobacco compared to 87% of 22-24 year olds and more than nine out of 10 respondents in all Member States (except Cyprus) said it would be easy for them to obtain alcohol, only 83% of respondents in Cyprus said it would be easy.
The 15-18 year-olds were the ones thinking it would be very or fairly difficult for them to get hold of illicit drugs, while the 19-24 year-olds most often expected it to be very or fairly easy to obtain them. Moreover, just under half (47%) of rural residents said it would be very difficult to acquire heroin, compared to 39% of urban residents and 40% of metropolitan residents.
Prof. John Kurakar
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