Stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention

Ranjan K Baruah

(With direct inputs from UN/WHO publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)

One of the unsolved issues or problems in the entire world is dealing with drugs. Drugs are everywhere, but in an illegal way, which is causing more problems among people and among the administration. The world drug problem is a complex issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Many people who use drugs face stigma and discrimination, which can further harm their physical and mental health and prevent them from accessing the help they need. We have seen how families are destroyed due to the use of illegal drugs. Many young people around the world have destroyed their futures and their families due to drugs.

The trade in drugs was already recognized as a global problem requiring a global solution at the beginning of the 20th century, with the first international conference on narcotic drugs held in Shanghai in 1909. Over the following decades, a multilateral system to control the production, trafficking, and abuse of drugs was developed. Three drug control conventions were adopted under the auspices of the United Nations (in 1961, 1971, and 1988). Adherence is now almost universal.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was established by Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution 9(I) in 1946 to assist ECOSOC in supervising the application of the international drug control treaties. By resolution 42/112 of December 7, 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports Member States in implementing a balanced, health- and evidence-based approach to the world drug problem that addresses both supply and demand and is guided by human rights and the agreed international drug control framework.

By resolution 42/112 of December 7, 1987, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDDAIT) as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. IDDAIT, or World Drug Day, is marked to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. The aim of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness about the importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy, providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all, offering alternatives to punishment, prioritizing prevention, and leading with compassion. The campaign also aims to combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs by promoting language and attitudes that are respectful and non-judgmental. The theme is “people first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”. The UNODC recognises the importance of taking a people-centred approach to drug policies, with a focus on human rights, compassion, and evidence-based practices.

Every year, UNODC issues the World Drug Report, full of key statistics and factual data obtained through official sources, a science-based approach, and research. UNODC continues to provide facts and practical solutions to address the current world drug problem and remains committed to attaining health for all. The health and justice sectors are under pressure, and access to services and support is obstructed when we can least afford it.

Cannabis legalisation in parts of the world appears to have accelerated daily use and related health impacts, according to the UNODC’s World Drug Report 2022. The report also details record rises in the manufacturing of cocaine, the expansion of synthetic drugs to new markets, and continued gaps in the availability of drug treatments, especially for women.

According to the report, around 284 million people aged 15–64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 percent increase over the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than in the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under 35 represent the majority of people being treated for drug use disorders.

Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. Around half of these numbers were living with hepatitis C, 1.4 million were living with HIV, and 1.2 million were living with both. Illicit drug markets, according to the 2022 World Drug Report, can have local, community, or individual-level impacts on the environment. Key findings include that the carbon footprint of indoor cannabis is between 16 and 100 times greater than that of outdoor cannabis on average and that the footprint of 1 kilogramme of cocaine is 30 times greater than that of cocoa beans.

In his message on the occasion of IDDAIT, the Secretary-General of the United Nations said that “this year’s International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking focuses on the need to put people first by ending stigma and discrimination and strengthening prevention. This means stressing rehabilitation rather than punishment and incarceration for minor drug offences. It means upholding the human rights of people who use drugs, including by expanding prevention and treatment programmes and health services. It means protecting people and communities alike by ending impunity for drug traffickers profiting from people’s pain.” “As a global community, let’s continue our work to end drug abuse, illicit trafficking, and the stigma endured by drug users around the world,” he said in his message.

Together, we can make a big difference by making the world free from all illegal drugs and illicit trafficking. Both drugs and trafficking are against humanity, and we must stand against them and become a voice to make our society a better place to live in. This day brings an opportunity to organize programmes or other campaigns to work against illegal drugs and illicit trafficking. Let us take the opportunity and contribute positively to making a better society and bringing about sustainable development in the near future.