The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, colloquially known as World Drug Day, is celebrated annually on June 26th. This day was established on December 7th, 1987, by the United Nations General Assembly with the purpose of strengthening global efforts towards achieving a society free of drug abuse. Each year, the United Nations Office On Drug And Crime (UNODC) uses this day to increase awareness about the detrimental effects of drug abuse on societal health.
World Drug Report of 2022
In line with World Drug Day, UNODC released the World Drug Report of 2022. The report sheds light on several important trends in global drug usage and distribution, including cannabis use post-legalization, the environmental impacts of illicit drugs, and the consumption of drugs amongst women and youth.
Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises
The theme for World Drug Day 2022 is ‘Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises.’ This comes in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and various humanitarian crises observed globally. Issues such as synthetic drug crises also demand flexible and proactive solutions.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan/Drugs-Free India Campaign & Other Related Initiatives
Several initiatives are underway to mitigate the issue of drug abuse. In India, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan/Drugs-Free India Campaign, National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, Narco-Coordination Centre, and National Fund to Control Drug Abuse are substantial efforts towards this cause. Globally, conventions such as Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961; The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971; and The UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 have demonstrated significant commitment to drug control.
Highlights from the World Drug Report 2022: The Indian Perspective
According to the World Drug Report 2022, India is poised to become one of the world’s largest opiate markets, with the potential for increased supply due to escalating trafficking from Afghanistan. Furthermore, India ranked fourth globally for opium seizures in 2020, accounting for 5.2 tons seized. Additionally, in 2020, India announced its first dismantling of a major international criminal network trafficking non-medical tramadol and other psychoactive substances on the dark web.
Global Insights from the World Drug Report 2022
The World Drug Report 2022 provides critical data on global drug usage trends. An estimated 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, representing a 26% increase over the previous decade. Cocaine manufacturing and seizures also reached record highs despite the ongoing pandemic. The report notes that women represent a significant minority of global drug users, yet they increase their rate of drug consumption at a faster pace than men.
Recommendations from the World Drug Report 2022
The report recommends devoting ample resources and attention to every aspect of the world drug problem. This includes provision of evidence-based care to all those in need and improving knowledge of how illicit drugs relate to other urgent global issues such as conflict and environmental degradation. The report also suggests that holistic drug-supply reduction strategies should be tailored by policymakers worldwide, integrating drug policy approaches into conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. A further recommendation is for governments to encourage more complex investigations of transnational crimes to uncover and dismantle related financial flows.
