Blog post: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Drugs, Habits and Social Policy

The Drugs and Alcohol Today journal editors provide commentary on Emerald’s Real World Impact blog about drug policies on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

A comment on drug policies on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

"June 26 marks two major events in the drug policy calendar. The formal event is the launch of the UNODC’s World Drug Report 2020. It will contain statistics on drug seizures, drug arrests, emerging substances and user groups, grants made and technical support delivered. Repeating the increasingly disputed target of 'the world drugs problem', it will discuss interventions and interceptions, the role of criminal justice, police and military units. It is an account of activities and data, it will not include reflections of how relevant the aims of the Conventions which UNODC implements are, nor of the effectiveness and impact of UNODC’s work and the activity described. Common to the various treaties and Conventions intended to inhibit and eradicate the production, trade and use of ‘illicit’ substances, the Report will not provide space for reflection or evaluation. The Report will be a feature of the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. As with the continued presence in the associated international Conventions of the term narcotics, the terminology is misleading and inaccurate. But it sets a tone..."

To read more: A comment on drug policies on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking