Home » Plenary Item 6: Follow-up to the implementation at the national, regional and international levels of all commitments, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, to address and counter the world drug problem

Plenary Item 6: Follow-up to the implementation at the national, regional and international levels of all commitments, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, to address and counter the world drug problem

Plenary Item 6

Follow-up to the implementation at the national, regional and international levels of all commitments, as reflected in the Ministerial Declaration of 2019, to address and counter the world drug problem

Chair: I give the floor to the Youth Forum.

Youth Forum: We are 34 youth from 28 countries. We realise substance use is a multifactorial problem affecting young people in every region. For every person experiencing substance use disorders there are greater burdens on healthcare, the economy and communities. As we recover from COVID-19, people still struggle with disruptions in their lives. Increased substance use during the lockdown period means we need to be vigilant. Preventing substance use is important. Cost-effective and proactive solution to substance use. Raising awareness and passive information isn’t enough. We should strive to achieve a healthy, equal, sustainable society, through commitment, perseverance, and strategic evidence-based programmes. By laying the foundations with education, social programmes and policies, we can stop substance use before it starts. More social and emotional skills learning builds resilience and can be implemented in the education system. Urgent and conclusive action must be taken. This entails improving health literacy on a global scale, the implementation of preventative policies and promoting social support networks. Focus should be on the person, not the substance. Cooperation between stakeholders is necessary and research should develop to avail evidence based prevention programs. We call on Member States to consult with youth to understand our values and needs. Youth engagement is critical in marking prevention effectively. Young people offer unique insight in constantly evolving substance issues. Youth should be actively engaged in the implementation of existing platforms and projects. We have a better understanding of our generation. We can help create new strategies with holistic and regional context. Reducing power dynamics between adults and youth means we feel safer to express our ideas and empowered to take initiative. Only through collaboration we can reach innovative and practical solutions. Investing in our generation must not be ignored. We have a responsibility to ensure a safer future for everyone. We know what needs to be addressed and what our needs are. We as the youth are the present, not just the future. Breaking the cycle of substance use tomorrow requires youth prevention today. 

Chair: This has been the best defence of the value and need to have efficient and well crafted prevention measures in our world. I’m very touched. You remind us of the importance of our work here. It matters. It’s not just about resolutions, but real measures that can change the world and can give to youth the possibility to be free and to live up to their possibilities. I thank all of you for your words and I hope we all remember those words and continue working committed to have policies that can solve this issue. We’ve been working on this for 50 years and we’re not winning. We’re not making this better. The World Drug Report shows indicators are getting worse. One of the ways is to do prevention. If we give youth the tools to allow them to take good decisions in the moment when they are offered any kind of drugs, they can have the possibility to say no and stop spreading this disease. Apologies for my emotional state but I encourage you to present these words every time you’re discussing resolutions. Remember for whom we’re working. Remember they deserve everything.

UNODC-WHO Informal Scientific Network: We fund science for prevention and treatment to help us advance discoveries to address substance use and SUDs. Science shows imprisonment is not an adequate response. It exacerbates the problems and jeopardises the lives of individuals and their families. Because of the negative impacts of … it is imperative to address proper interventions to individuals (…). Individuals with substance use and SUDs should not be criminalised. People, including in prison settings, should have access to support and voluntary treatment no matter their legal status. We must provide alternatives to conviction and punishment for people with SUDs who have committed minor offences. Enhancing social justice. Clinical screening for SUDs and comorbidities, including suicidality, prior to and in prison settings is important to arrive at a correct diagnosis. Important to avoid exacerbation of SUDs in prison settings. Ethical guidelines for treatment. Not for punitive purposes. It should uphold principles of human rights in line with human rights standards and laws. National and international independent review mechanisms which follow accepted standards to ensure quality care and ethical treatment in prison settings. In all justice related cases, people should receive treatment and care in a standard equal to the community regardless of social status, including for individuals with multiple needs. Continuum of care model including social  and health services to ensure reintegration in the community post incarceration. Effective medication should be widely available for the treatment of substances… Naloxone to prevent and manage overdoses including upon release. Healthcare in justice settings for quality care and sustainability. Adequate funding for quality care for SUDs before, during and after incarceration. Support and invest in systematic data collection to help monitor, evaluate and allocate resources. Recognising that social determinants of health are risk factors in offending, they need addressing —necessary for rehabilitation and recovery of individuals with SUDs.

Adeeba Kamarulzaman (…): The evidence is well established and clear, harm reduction works. NSP reduces HIV and viral hepatitis. OAT reduces vulnerabilities to infectious diseases and uptake in health and social services and reduces mortality. Naloxone is an effective treatment in which opioid overdoses can be safely delivered by family. Many countries continue to underutilise harm reduction and rely on punitive and criminalising approaches to drug use. Even in countries where harm reduction programmes are implemented, availability is uneven. Accessibility is inadequate. Access is endangered when rights are not enforced. Compulsory detention violates norms and standards. Forced labour, inadequate nutrition, all happen at these sites. Eleven years ago we called for their closure globally but the transition to voluntary community-based services has stalled and even reversed in some contexts. The criminalisation of possession and use accounts for a significant proportion of the global prison population, overcrowding … Lack of harm reduction exacerbates the crisis of COVID-19. HIV, viral hepatitis and TB. Reforming prison conditions is important but people should not be incarcerated in the first place for possession. Legislative reform needs leadership and involvement of people who use drugs. They have experience and expertise to craft pòlicies and practices and serve their communities. Alongside data collection, we need more monitoring and reporting on human rights and intersections with access to services. People who use drugs can take leading roles on this. Data must cover the community and prisons. We call member states to publish and collect this data. Countries moving away from criminalising possession and use see positive results. We have evidence and international commitments. We need action. Members states should use tools at their disposal to end criminalisation, discrimination and expand access t o harm reduction and lifesaving interventions. It’s the time for serious commitments for the rights and health of people who use drugs.

(Temporary return to Item 5)

Chair: (Introduction of resolutions) 

Secretariat: (recap of the multi-year work plan and progress) 

UNODC: (Video introduction of 2019 Ministerial Declaration follow-up portal)

UNODC —Statistical Branch: Let me start with the usual numbers we look at every year, prevalence of use and prevalence of disorders. As you can see, we have certainty that these numbers are increasing globally, based on our best estimates. In terms of type, cannabis continues to be the most used drug, then non-medical use of opioids and opiates, then amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy. Then, in terms of impact, we can see that the number of people who inject drugs, that as we know can bring some harm to health, is at more than 11 million in 2022. About half of them live with hepatitis C and half a million also live with HIV and one million lives with HIV. The different sizes of the problem in different regions shows us that Eastern Europe has the highest percentage of injecting use but in terms of numbers, it is South-East Asia as it is the most populous region. In terms of uncertainty, we have a global estimate and a global gap exists on the data on drug use. There is more data on drug supply. We also looked at age and sex: it is mostly men who use drugs and you can see the different distribution in terms of age, but the majority are in the younger age. Clearly, young people use drugs more than the general population. In some regions more than others, for example in Africa, this difference is not very large, but in Europe it is the case. Last year we wanted to dig more into sex – as you can see on these graphs, women have different patterns. Men tend to use more in general, but if you look at different types, you will see the difference even more clearly. When you look at nonmedical use of prescription drugs, actually it is more women. It is also interesting to see that these gender divides are different across regions. In terms of treatment, if we look at amphetamine particularly, one out of 5 women who use them get access to treatment. The shrinkage here is most visible in the USA. We also wanted to ask what are the most harmful drugs? Afterall, you should focus more effort there, right? Actually, we have different aspects on what is harm. So when we ask MS, what is the drug that is relating to most deaths or what is the drug that brings most of the people into treatment? 40% of MS said it is Cannabis, 35% said it is opioids. In relation to deaths, clearly the great majority said opioids – this remains the most deathly class. When we look at people with disorders, member states are divided – it is represented in our reports. We have to appreciate each region has their own specific issues. Through the ARQ, we looked at prevention and treatment and I really just want to give you a snapshot: some countries don’t have what have been asking, there is no info about accreditation or standards. Just to mention the classical dilemma, opioids are either too much or too little globally – clearly this has been a discussion here in CND, there is a striking gap between African and Northern American regions. In the World Drug Report, we have charts about nonmedical use of opioids and the distribution of this trend across the World, along with treatment statistics. Overdose deaths observed in the USA, heavily related to fentanyl (…). On the supply side, the cocaine market is expanding to nontraditional markets, methamphetamine manufactured in Afghanistan is reaching new destinations, particularly in the West.. We have released the first Global Cocaine Report the other day (it will be accessible from tomorrow). The perception of risks related to Cannabis is decreasing, while the potency of cannabis products is increasing. Opium production is increasing, as we have seen not only in Indonesia but Myanmar also. 

UNODC —Drugs Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch: Next year is an important milestone to committing to fighting the world drug problem. The evidence that our drug report gives us from illicit cultivation to synthetic drug manufacturers, access to medicines and problem drug use shows that while we have made progress we still need to do more collectively to achieve our commitments. We need to build on the evidence and the signs of what works. We need to pursue balanced and rights based responses to the world drug problem. At UNODC, we retooled our structures last year to support the implementation of all commitments to the 2019 declaration in a rights based and development oriented manner. We established a new laboratory branch which brings together our work on scientific services, drug prevention and rehabilitation, HIV prevention and treatment, access to controlled medicines and alternative development. This new structure ensures that member states will have access to new scientific evidence and tools posed by drugs. We are pursuing this objective through capacity building and technical assistance which makes international standards for practice, safeguards human rights and fosters gender equality. In the area of scientific and forensic services, the UNODC continues to provide quality assurance and support to 300 labs in 90 countries worldwide. Through the early warning advisory on NPS, UNODC is actively monitoring more than 1000 substances to assist member states to develop appropriate responses. Our synthetic drug strategy offers a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the synthetic drug problem. The UN toolkit on synthetic drugs brings together a wealth of practical resources and new resources to support the international community. With regard to drug prevention, I would like to mention some new resources to support the international community such as conference room paper 10 reports on effective interventions for women who use drugs. With regard to HIV/aids prevention – risk of HIV is 35 x higher among people who use drugs, however we know what works. Needle and syringe programs prevent the spread of HIV and OAT reduces drug use. It is encouraging that the latest data indicates that more countries are implementing these key services for people who use drugs. Globally among the vast majority of people who use drugs, less than 1% live in countries where measures to reduce harm are available. Provision of these services in prison is even more dire. We are committed to helping member states implement a human rights and health oriented approach to drugs. Finally, I’m pleased to announce the development of a new technical guide to issues regarding alternative development which brings together lessons learned and best practices to decrease our ecological footprint and reinforces other efforts as seen in the draft resolution being negotiated on environmental protection. Lets base our responses on evidence, let’s follow the signs on what works.

Chief of the Organised Crime Branch: Thank you Mr Chair, for giving me the floor. Distinguished delegates ladies and gentlemen. I have the pleasure of briefing on some of the work the UNODC has carried out in the last year to counter the world drug problem. Due to time constraints I will only be able to give you a few examples. As you note from the report from the secretariat  – the cannabis cultivation cultivation has threaded upward for a decade now. The quantity of amphetamine has continued to increase and reached a record height of 525 tons in 2020 with an increase of 16% and also the amount of heroin seized increased by 19% and totalled 15 tons. As part of its normative work, UNODC conceived to collect drug control information for the drug control repository. The repository hosts a compendium of resources of the implementation of international drug control conventions. The drug control repository contains 1381 legislation entries from 190 countries. SHERLOC: 878 legislative entries on the criminalization and countering of drug-related offences, 1,152 authorities from 184 states and the European union. Through its airport communication program, also known as AIRCORP, UNODC delivered training in 2020 in 47 countries to close to 2000 officers, as a result seizures included 665 kg of cannabis, 355 kg of cocaine, and 2kg of NPS and 95 kg of other drugs.The UNODC supported over 1000 seizures of drugs and other illicit goods, and 143 trainings on drug supply reduction. Increased interconnectivity and continuation of online platforms, has brought numerous advantages for drug traffickers. While the internet has not dramatically changed drug supply chains, UNODC has enhanced its member states to trace and track illicit substances and their precursor chemicals. 357 officers have gained skills in countering trafficking of drugs. We stand ready to continue to support member states in their efforts to fulfil their efforts to counter the world drug problems. We count on your continued support and cooperation by providing data through our annual reporting questionnaire. I’d like to thank the 94 states and territories that responded to the modules on drug supply reduction.

Chair: (Introduction of resolutions) 

Secretariat: (recap of the multi-year work plan and progress) 

UNODC: (Video introduction of 2019 Ministerial Declaration follow-up portal)

UNODC —Statistical Branch: Let me start with the usual numbers we look at every year, prevalence of use and prevalence of disorders. As you can see, we have certainty that these numbers are increasing globally, based on our best estimates. In terms of type, cannabis continues to be the most used drug, then non-medical use of opioids and opiates, then amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy. Then, in terms of impact, we can see that the number of people who inject drugs, that as we know can bring some harm to health, is at more than 11 million in 2022. About half of them live with hepatitis C and half a million also live with HIV and one million lives with HIV. The different sizes of the problem in different regions shows us that Eastern Europe has the highest percentage of injecting use but in terms of numbers, it is South-East Asia as it is the most populous region. In terms of uncertainty, we have a global estimate and a global gap exists on the data on drug use. There is more data on drug supply. We also looked at age and sex: it is mostly men who use drugs and you can see the different distribution in terms of age, but the majority are in the younger age. Clearly, young people use drugs more than the general population. In some regions more than others, for example in Africa, this difference is not very large, but in Europe it is the case. Last year we wanted to dig more into sex – as you can see on these graphs, women have different patterns. Men tend to use more in general, but if you look at different types, you will see the difference even more clearly. When you look at nonmedical use of prescription drugs, actually it is more women. It is also interesting to see that these gender divides are different across regions. In terms of treatment, if we look at amphetamine particularly, one out of 5 women who use them get access to treatment. The shrinkage here is most visible in the USA. We also wanted to ask what are the most harmful drugs? Afterall, you should focus more effort there, right? Actually, we have different aspects on what is harm. So when we ask MS, what is the drug that is relating to most deaths or what is the drug that brings most of the people into treatment? 40% of MS said it is Cannabis, 35% said it is opioids. In relation to deaths, clearly the great majority said opioids – this remains the most deathly class. When we look at people with disorders, member states are divided – it is represented in our reports. We have to appreciate each region has their own specific issues. Through the ARQ, we looked at prevention and treatment and I really just want to give you a snapshot: some countries don’t have what have been asking, there is no info about accreditation or standards. Just to mention the classical dilemma, opioids are either too much or too little globally – clearly this has been a discussion here in CND, there is a striking gap between African and Northern American regions. In the World Drug Report, we have charts about nonmedical use of opioids and the distribution of this trend across the World, along with treatment statistics. Overdose deaths observed in the USA, heavily related to fentanyl (…). On the supply side, the cocaine market is expanding to nontraditional markets, methamphetamine manufactured in Afghanistan is reaching new destinations, particularly in the West.. We have released the first Global Cocaine Report the other day (it will be accessible from tomorrow). The perception of risks related to Cannabis is decreasing, while the potency of cannabis products is increasing. Opium production is increasing, as we have seen not only in Indonesia but Myanmar also. 

UNODC —Drugs Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch: Next year is an important milestone to committing to fighting the world drug problem. The evidence that our drug report gives us from illicit cultivation to synthetic drug manufacturers, access to medicines and problem drug use shows that while we have made progress we still need to do more collectively to achieve our commitments. We need to build on the evidence and the signs of what works. We need to pursue balanced and rights based responses to the world drug problem. At UNODC, we retooled our structures last year to support the implementation of all commitments to the 2019 declaration in a rights based and development oriented manner. We established a new laboratory branch which brings together our work on scientific services, drug prevention and rehabilitation, HIV prevention and treatment, access to controlled medicines and alternative development. This new structure ensures that member states will have access to new scientific evidence and tools posed by drugs. We are pursuing this objective through capacity building and technical assistance which makes international standards for practice, safeguards human rights and fosters gender equality. In the area of scientific and forensic services, the UNODC continues to provide quality assurance and support to 300 labs in 90 countries worldwide. Through the early warning advisory on NPS, UNODC is actively monitoring more than 1000 substances to assist member states to develop appropriate responses. Our synthetic drug strategy offers a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the synthetic drug problem. The UN toolkit on synthetic drugs brings together a wealth of practical resources and new resources to support the international community. With regard to drug prevention, I would like to mention some new resources to support the international community such as conference room paper 10 reports on effective interventions for women who use drugs. With regard to HIV/aids prevention – risk of HIV is 35 x higher among people who use drugs, however we know what works. Needle and syringe programs prevent the spread of HIV and OAT reduces drug use. It is encouraging that the latest data indicates that more countries are implementing these key services for people who use drugs. Globally among the vast majority of people who use drugs, less than 1% live in countries where measures to reduce harm are available. Provision of these services in prison is even more dire. We are committed to helping member states implement a human rights and health oriented approach to drugs. Finally, I’m pleased to announce the development of a new technical guide to issues regarding alternative development which brings together lessons learned and best practices to decrease our ecological footprint and reinforces other efforts as seen in the draft resolution being negotiated on environmental protection. Lets base our responses on evidence, let’s follow the signs on what works.

Chief of the Organised Crime Branch: Thank you Mr Chair, for giving me the floor. Distinguished delegates ladies and gentlemen. I have the pleasure of briefing on some of the work the UNODC has carried out in the last year to counter the world drug problem. Due to time constraints I will only be able to give you a few examples. As you note from the report from the secretariat  – the cannabis cultivation cultivation has threaded upward for a decade now. The quantity of amphetamine has continued to increase and reached a record height of 525 tons in 2020 with an increase of 16% and also the amount of heroin seized increased by 19% and totalled 15 tons. As part of its normative work, UNODC conceived to collect drug control information for the drug control repository. The repository hosts a compendium of resources of the implementation of international drug control conventions. The drug control repository contains 1381 legislation entries from 190 countries. SHERLOC: 878 legislative entries on the criminalization and countering of drug-related offences, 1,152 authorities from 184 states and the European union. Through its airport communication program, also known as AIRCORP, UNODC delivered training in 2020 in 47 countries to close to 2000 officers, as a result seizures included 665 kg of cannabis, 355 kg of cocaine, and 2kg of NPS and 95 kg of other drugs.The UNODC supported over 1000 seizures of drugs and other illicit goods, and 143 trainings on drug supply reduction. Increased interconnectivity and continuation of online platforms, has brought numerous advantages for drug traffickers. While the internet has not dramatically changed drug supply chains, UNODC has enhanced its member states to trace and track illicit substances and their precursor chemicals. 357 officers have gained skills in countering trafficking of drugs. We stand ready to continue to support member states in their efforts to fulfil their efforts to counter the world drug problems. We count on your continued support and cooperation by providing data through our annual reporting questionnaire. I’d like to thank the 94 states and territories that responded to the modules on drug supply reduction. 

European Union: (…) 

United States: Addressing synthetic drug threats is our biggest challenge. This global problem requires global solutions and we’re committed to identify actions in this direction. The US stresses the importance of the CND balanced approach. We are committed to carry this approach forward in looking towards 2024. For the US, addressing the opioid epidemic is the key focus of anti narcotics strategy. Prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery to address health risks of using opioids and related. Working with UNODC, INCB and member states on health and law enforcement initiatives. As we continue, pursuant to the 2019 declaration, leverage multilateral cooperation particularly in CND. Last year, the resolution on nonscheduled chemicals on designer precursors which exhorts to address synthetic drug manufacture. Disrupts supply and enhances detection interdiction of criminals by law enforcement. The scheduling regime also provides opportunities. We must leverage the scheduling regime to control harmful substances and chemicals. Cannot happen without timely accurate data. Important to identify new precursors and substances. The US sponsored a resolution on this and appreciate constructive support. The UNODC is critical in supporting MS efforts in the synthetic drugs strategy of UNODC —7m dollars to date. We’re grateful for that partnership. INCB work is also invaluable for MS to follow from 2019 —its precursors control programme and introduction of substances guide emerging drug control challenges, such as NPS and precursor control. Through these efforts, we advance follow on for the 2019 declaration. A major priority was national, regional and international efforts. Through these efforts, together, we advance critical follow up from 2019. We look forward to examining ahead of the 2024 review.

Russia (right to reply): It is with regret that we note an attempt to place in today’s discussion truly confrontational issues such an approach undermines international efforts to counter the world’s drugs problem. The discussion of issues on the special military operation in Ukraine are clearly beyond the mandate of CND. I recall that various events, including armed conflicts elsewhere, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, have never affected the work of the CND. I’d note that the special military operation is carried out by a professional army, which uses high precision weapons, and precise strikes. No carpet bombing here. Only military infrastructure. They never target civilian sites. Nationalists and Ukrainian forces have hit civilian targets. The Avenue of Angels —a place where children are buried. In this room, we all applauded the wonderful young people who spoke. That’s our future. That’s why we work. We applauded them. The children from the Avenue of Angels do not have a future, they won’t hear such applause. Since 2014 we have ensured that the people of Donbas and other regions have medicines containing narcotics which Ukraine refuses to provide. The intentional politicisation by CND of a number of delegations to meet short term goals in order to pressure Russia undermines the work of the UN. We hope our future discussions are based on facts and not politicised conjectures. Please allow me to conclude my right of reply by recalling 26th President of the US, Roosevelt: I see an enormous future for Russia; it will have to go through hard times. Perhaps difficult upheaval. All of this shall pass and Russia will become the embodiment of all Europe. It may be the most powerful power in the world.

European Union: Russia’s aggression is a threat to all countries. Violates values and principles of the international rules-based order. It undermines international peace and security. Has led to severe consequences on the global economy and food and energy security affecting millions worldwide. This morning we heard from Russia that Western countries are not honouring commitments in the drug control conventions. Remarkable statement by a country violating the most sacred UN Charter commitment: prohibition on military aggression. We will not be lectured on pacta sunt servanda by a country in contempt of the most fundamental rule of international law.

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