Session 6: Other Substantive Matters

Evidence snapshots:

– Alternative development – Thierry Rostan, UNODC (in person):

The concept of alternative development has evolved considerably since its earliest application in the 60s. Narrow crop substitution efforts change into integrated rural development initiatives, which, over time, became more people centered and have increasingly incorporated environmental concerns. Important guidance was defined in the 2013 United Nations guiding principles of on alternative development. The alternative development interventions by UN ODC in 2024 amounted 40 million USD implemented mainly in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Laos, Myanmar, Peru, and with important technical exchanges with Thailand, thanks to the increasing contributions of Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea and the European Union. UNODC will continue to strengthen its technical assistance where necessary. It is important to note that member states implements directly their alternative development program. Over the past two decades, UNODC has supported hundreds of thousands of families in finding dignified incomes away from illicit crops. In 2024 such support reached 100,000 families. But if we are to push back against the scale of illicit cultivation today, alternative development projects need to be scaled up massively in this challenging context. UNODC continues to encourage member states to implement balanced supply side drug control policies with alternative and sustainable development interventions to ensure that local communities receive competitive incomes and access to profitable legal markets. UNODC and partners approach is to work with farmer groups, local community organizations and the private sector to identify high yielding, marketable crops in harmony with the environment to satisfy national and international markets. UNODC has connected farmers with international markets. In 2025 a partnership with French and Belgium Coffee Roasters is facilitating the export of more than 400 tons of high quality coffee to Europe from 1000s of farming households in five countries. According to the evolving context, it is important to recall that the 2013 United Nations Guiding Principles on Alternative Development were endorsed by the UN General Assembly with 10 salient points. A resolution on the complementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Alternative Development at the 68th session of the CND was adopted by Member States. The next edition of the expert group meeting on alternative development is an inclusive process that will take place in Lima, Peru on November 5 co-hosted by Germany, Thailand and UNODC to provide recommendation to complement the UN guiding principle and alternative development, taking into account current, persistent and evolving challenges with a view to reinforcing and enhancing the effectiveness of AD programs for consideration by the CND at its 69th session in March, 2026. Let’s work together to produce an annex to the original guide to approach the next 15 years with an effective and solid document. Peru will share with us the methodology and process to follow to achieve this with inclusivity and relevant expertise.

– Multi-drug toxicity deaths – Chloe Carpentier, UNODC (in person): Multi-drug toxicity reflects actually two mechanisms. The first is poly-drug use. This is the intentional use of multiple substances, either sequentially or at the same time concurrently, to either manage or enhance the effect, usually, of the main substance, but it could be the effect of other substances. Poly-drug use is now a common feature among people who use drugs, whether they use it occasionally or whether they use it more regularly, as dependent drug users in the drug market. The second mechanism which results in multi drug toxicity in drug related deaths is the use of mixtures of different substances, and this exposure, can be often unintentional. Here we are talking about the exposure to a number of substances in one cocktail. Often, not all of the substances in a ‘coctail’ are known to the user. These drug mixtures are becoming ever more frequent in the drug market in all regions of the world, with the contents varying according to geographies, context and batches. For example, Tusi is a mixture appearing in Europe and South America. And may be the same name, but it may not have the same contents. They may be ketamine, but other drugs at the same time. Kush is Sierra Leone and other countries in Africa highly depends on geographies. Global number of drug-related deaths nearly doubled over 30 years. It can’t be attributed to one substance, for example, deaths due to infections or liver cancer from Hepatitis C. Example of patterns of poly-drug use from Asia – graph on screen.

– Addressing the Promotion of Cannabis and Cannabis-Related Products through Social Media and Online Platforms: Emerging Challenges and Policy Responses – Chloe Carpentier, UNODC Use of the internet is increasing globally. There is the public internet accessible to the public. The darknet is accessible through direct links, password protected, where illicit activities take place. We see online purchases increased a lot. Use of social media increased more than the use of the internet. This has had an impact on drug purchases in particular. We don’t have global data about purchases of drugs on social media or online. But a few national examples, and to raise a few points. A survey from New Zealand, in 2024 showed that for all drugs, the percentage of respondents that reported purchases on social media was always higher than purchasing drugs on dark net, and this likelihood to purchase drugs on social media was much higher for cannabis than for other drugs. There was a ratio of one to 16. So cannabis is really bought much more on social media than on the dark net in New Zealand. Another survey, from European Union from 2024 here too, also showed the likelihood of purchasing drugs on social media is higher than on the dark net or on online shops, and it’s much higher for cannabis product, but also for cocaine and crack. What is very important to highlight here that traditional markets, the markets in the street, remain the main source of purchase for all the drugs. So even if social media is increasing and cannabis is a lot sold on social media, the traditional outlet remain the preferred one. I wanted to highlight how this is concerning young people. So here we see that the use of social media is highest among 18-24 years old. This is really of concern, because this is an age that is particularly vulnerable to the to the use of drugs. Lastly, wanted to talk about the dark net. The largest proportion of drug sales is related to cannabis products, as in social media, but what we see is that the use of the dark web for drug purchases is comparatively rather small compared to purchases on social media, and the gap is increasing. Why? Because there has been a stagnation of drug purchases on the dark web, while the purchases on social media have been really rising very fast, and also because on the dark web, there’s been a shift towards small sales. By small sales, we mean sales that are more than $1,000 and as opposed to retail drug sales, which basically happen on social media and not on the dark net anymore.

– Increasing preparedness to address emerging drugs threats – Jared Brown, UNODC We’ve heard about a range of emerging drug threats across the past three days, seeing increasing challenges posed by NPS, adulterated drugs, falsified medicines, pharmaceutical misuse, digital marketplaces are some of these examples. And the potential lethality of highly potent synthetic opioids, where micrograms can be a lethal dose, is alarming. The emergence of NPS opioids outside of North America is requiring countries to prepare like never before, with Nitazenes reported in 38 countries today in all continents. The emergence of potent NPS in drug markets are often associated with clusters of hospitalizations or deaths, and sadly, we have seen numerous examples of this across the globe. In recent years, on a more promising note, we’ve seen development in National Early Warning Systems adapting to these new challenges of a rapidly changing and complex drug market, and through collaborative network spanning law enforcement, health services and civil society, the rapid recognitions of clusters or trends in drug related harms, provides the opportunity to intervene and prevent outbreaks and protect the community. Early Warning System Best Practice includes a range of measures that aid preparedness to respond to emerging drug threats, and the considerations for these include having a designated focal point, access to timely confirmatory laboratory analysis, surge capacity, multi-disciplinary, risk assessment and communication processes, standard operating procedures, data sharing agreements or legislation supporting rapid information exchange, secure data platforms and multi-disciplinary scenario based simulations to be in place to reduce the time to respond to emerging drug threats, and we’re now seeing examples where the identification to response times are cut from months to days, or in some examples, hours. And the quicker that we can act the more lives that will be saved. UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Services are providing a range of services to support preparedness to address emerging drug threats, and this includes manuals training and the international quality assurance program that’s delivered to hundreds of laboratories to ensure member states have the capacity to identify controlled substances, as well as address future challenges by guiding structure elucidation to identify new substances. UNODC’s early warning advisory on NPS collates data from almost 500 different sources to ensure that information on these new substances, including analytical, toxicological, pharmacological and legal response data is shared and accessible to all. Collaboration across local, national, regional and global early warning systems is needed now more than ever, and UNODC remains ready to assist member states and process data from regional networks such as the EUDA in real time. Another continuing emerging threat is that drug markets around the world continue to witness the proliferation of precursor chemicals used for the manufacture of drugs. Challenges exist with attempts by criminals to bypass existing controls through the design and use of new uncontrolled precursors, together with an increase in the sophistication of clandestine laboratories used for the manufacture of drugs. We must detect these threats early, and we must increase the preparedness of countries to address these issues. To support member states, UNODC has in the last year developed guidelines for clandestine manufacture of drugs, the dismantling of clandestine laboratories and an innovative online platform to support clandestine laboratory investigation and profiling of drugs that are manufactured therein. And following a resolution adopted at CND this year, UNODC has begun developing its technical assistance and training activities to ensure the safety of officers in dismantling illicit synthetic drug laboratories, particularly those involving synthetic opioids.

– Protecting the coca leaf in its natural state in the framework of the critical review of Coca Leaf by the WHO – Dr. Mubangizi, WHO The 1961 and 1971 conventions entrust WHO to assess the abuse liability of substances in order to make recommendations for control. This a scientifically guided strategy for developing an objective basis for the regulation of drugs. Appropriate drug regulation is intended to ensure that the medicinal needs of patients can be addressed without undue or inappropriate limitation to access while also preventing abuse through legal provisions. The role therefore, of WHO through the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, is to evaluate the impact of psychoactive substances on the public health by evaluating their dependency producing properties and potential harm to health, as well as considering their potential medical benefits and their therapeutic applications. In order to implement this, there are standard procedures to make sure we have a consistent approach to our evaluations and are scientifically consistent. The Blue Book outlines procedures for substance review. Talking about initiation a review, it can be started by a Member State to the Convention, for examples. The coca review was initiated by a notification from a Party concerning the scheduling.  The review can also be initiated by the CND, where there has been an explicit request from CND to review a substance. It can also be initiated by WHO, through using information brought to WHO’s attention that a substance is clandestinely manufactured or poses serious risk to public health and society and of no recognized therapeutic use has been has been noticed, and this can be brought by any party to the convention. PICTURE

In June 2023, who received official notification to conduct the critical review of coca leaf. The scope includes the coca leaf and preparations of coca leaf, including powder and tea (as defined in the 1961 Convention). Important to understand the critical review excludes cocaine and preparations of cocaine, including coca paste, which are controlled separately under Schedule 1 of 1961 Convention. WHO is following the Blue Book. The critical review report used published and unpublished scientific data, a published worldwide call for proposals … other UN mechanisms, and partners like EUDA and monitoring center on adverse reactions to medications. A Member State Questionnaire was sent to all countries, with the purpose of collecting additional evidence about the substances review, which is lacking in the scientific literature. Data was requested on approved uses, route of administration etc. available in 6 UN languages. All these data sources are reviewed and standardized into a critical report. First of all reviewed by 2 independent expert panel members. Comments on the draft critical review report will be compiled and presented to the Committee. What you find on the website now is not the final report. It will be updated with comments we receive during the public consultation and deliberations of the committee. Every expert committee meeting is preceded by an information meeting. We accept written and oral interventions before the committee begins. Every opportunity is taken to make sure all can input. Timeline: on 22nd September, the report was posted online. Written comments are expected by 15th of October. Expert member biographies also posted online for public comment. 20th October information meeting for all state parties to commit written statement and we will proceed with peer review. From 22nd of October, the expert committee will sit and develop recommendations based on the critical review and other information received. In December we will hopefully come here to tell you formally the recommendations of the expert committee – along with the other substances review at CND reconvened. In February, will publish officially the report of ECDD and in March we will come here to witness the CND consider a vote on the recommendations of the expert committee. Registration for the expert committee meeting: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2025/10/20/default-calendar/forty-eighth-expert-committee-on-drug-dependence

CND Chair: Invite Member States to introduce topics.

Peru: From 5-7 November, Lima, Peru will host the 10th expert group meeting on alternative development under the theme “Complementing UN guiding principles on AD – co-organized by Germany, Thailand and UNODC marking an important step in advancing the global dialogue on alternative development. The Lima meeting represents the culmination of a broad consultative process and will prepare concrete proposals for considerations by the CND in 2026. Over the past decade, the EGM on alternative development series has become a unique platform for inclusive exchange among Member States, UN entities, civil society, academia and the private sector, its discussions reflected in conference room papers have enriched the international drug policy debate and strengthened the understanding of development oriented responses to address the world drug problem. The 10th edition of the EGM will focus on themes central to the future of alternative development, promoting sustainable livelihoods, empowering indigenous peoples and local communities, integrating environmental biodiversity and climate considerations and fostering innovative partnerships to improve effectiveness and resilience by addressing both persistent and emerging challenges. The Lima meeting will contribute to reinforcing alternative development as a cornerstone of balance evidence based and people centered drug policies. We estimate that 60 representatives from member states will participate, including representatives from government institutions of more than 20 member states of the five regional groups, as well as representatives from UN entities, European Union, the Organization of American States, civil society and the private sector. After the 10th expert group meeting the organization, the organizers will make an oral report to member states on the outcome of the meeting during the Reconvened session of CND of December 2025. We also plan to submit a conference room paper gathering the main topics addressed in the encounter in Lima, paving the way to table a resolution accompanied by the complementing principles to be negotiated and adopted during the 69th CND, next March.

CND Chair: Thank you Peru. Is a trip to Machu Picchu included? To present on multi drug toxicity deaths, Canada, you have the floor.

Canada: Canada is continuing to experience an unrelenting illegal, toxic drug crisis. The crisis is being driven by a drug supply that has become ever more unpredictable and dangerous over time, leading to accidental deaths and affecting people from all walks of life. Our sessions these last three days have touched on a range of issues, including as related to synthetic drugs. These have been insightful and informative. Today, Canada wishes to draw specific attention to the challenges associated with multi drug use, including the unknown contamination of drugs with highly toxic substances. Deaths in Canada involving combinations of three or more substances have more than doubled, rising from 20% in 2018 to 42% in 2023 underscoring the increasing complexity and risks associated with the illegal drug supply. opioids and stimulants are often mixed, whether intentionally or unintentionally, with sedatives such as benzodiazepines and xylazine. What is more, the increasing presence of ultra potent opioids like nitazines continues to be a significant concern of all accidental stimulant related poisoning hospitalizations from January to March 2025, 38% involved an opioid and a stimulant. Unpredictable and unknown substance combinations contribute to an increased risk of overdose and death. We know that with multi drug combinations, while Naloxone can reverse the opioid effects, it has no effects on the other drugs being used. This makes treatment more complex for responders. It is important for us to consider what interventions are needed for multi drug use and poly substance use. And in Canada, while men account for nearly 75% of substance related deaths, both men and women face similar risks for multi drug toxicity. Regional factors and local contexts, such as local drug markets, substance availability and composition, patterns of drug use, access to services and socio economic conditions, including housing and economic insecurity, significantly influence substance related toxicity deaths. Understanding demographic and regional patterns in multi drug use is essential for supporting effective public health and public safety responses and designing targeted prevention and intervention strategies. Robust data collection and information sharing at both domestic and international levels is critical to guide evidence based responses to rising multi drug toxicity deaths. Canada remains committed to continuing to monitor and identify the combinations of substances most frequently involved in substance related toxicity deaths. Canada’s Drug Analysis Service laboratories can effectively detect multi drug samples in their analyses, offering timely insights into the illegal drug supply. Our labs work with partners around the world to develop proper scientific drug analysis procedures that other countries may also use. Ongoing efforts to analyze the evolution of illegal drug markets will continue to be important as we strive to better understand the broader context driving multi drug substance use.

European Union:

According to the World Drug Report, 2025 we are witnessing a growing demand fueled by a combination of factors, as well as a growing supply from a relentless and adapted illicit trade, both of which are inflamed by global instability in a vicious cycle. The European drug market is also evolving rapidly. According to the European Drug Report 2025 this appears to be resulting in the availability of a more diverse range of substances, often of high potency and purity, which is posing new risks to public health. The complexity and scale of the issue continue to grow. Drug related challenges have an impact in almost every area, they are manifest in and exacerbate other complex policy problems such as homelessness, the management of psychiatric disorders and youth criminality. We are also witnessing greater levels of violence and corruption driven by the drug market in some countries. Increasingly, we are observing that almost any substance with psychoactive properties can appear on the drug market, often mislabeled or in mixtures. This leaves people who use drugs potentially unaware of what they are consuming, increasing increases health risks and creates new challenges for law enforcement and regulators. Additionally, there is rising concern at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons about the potential weaponization of central nervous system acting drugs such as fentanyl by both state and non state actors, given their growing availability. In this context, we encourage an exchange of information between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and OPCW. Increasing the EU’s preparedness and capacity to react to future developments was our pledged announced in 2024 under the Pledge4Action initiative. It remains central in the ongoing preparation of the new European Union drug strategic framework, including initiatives such as exercises incorporating opioid exposure scenarios and the development of academic publisher guidelines to reduce security risks in connection to opioid research. In this regard, the EU is boosting health security and collaboration efforts across sectors under Regulation 2022 2371 to tackle all serious cross border threats to health, which might include those due to opioid and other drug risk through permanent measures to improve emergency response, such as naloxone distribution programs. Member states and relevant EU institutions and agencies develop and implement comprehensive human rights and evidence based policies, including in relation to NPS in order to prevent and address emerging drug threats. Such policies and measures aim at reducing health and social harms through early intervention, prevention, treatment, recovery and support services, as well as research, professional training and harm reduction measures such as needle and syringe exchange programs, opioid substance therapies and overdose prevention, including naloxone distribution programs. The EUDA provides the Union and its membership with factual, objective, reliable and comparable information, early warning and risk assessment. At Union level, the EUDA recommends appropriate and concrete, evidence based actions to address the challenges in an efficient and timely manner. As announced in our pledge to empower the EUDA in relation to preparedness, the monitoring and analytical capacity of the EU DA has been strengthened to make better use of the information available, for example, to take more proactive measures such as threats assessments, strategic intelligence reports and alerts, and to increase the European Union’s preparedness for future developments. The EUDA carries out specific tasks, including the exchange of information on early warning system for new psychoactive substances, including the preparation of initial reports and risk assessments, health threats assessments, security threats assessments, in close cooperation with the European agency for law enforcement cooperation EUROPOL, the establishment and operation of A European drug alert system, the monitoring of developments related to the diversion and trafficking of drug precursors, and contributing to the implementation of Union law. To enter in continuous high level cooperation, sufficient funding of UNODC and INCB is necessary. International cooperation is essential, so the EUDA will strengthen its commitment to work with partners, including the scientific community and civil society.

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka put forward this topic recognizing the urgent and complex challenges posed by rapid expansion of cannabis related content across digital platforms, and the evolving online environment spaces where cannabis use and cannabis related products are being normalized, glamorized and aggressively marketed, especially to young people. We are particularly concerned about two dimensions of this issue. One, cannabis as a so called legal product, availability of cannabis based items that are often marketed across borders without adequate controls, the growth of edibles, drinks and other consumer products containing psychoactive THC, there is a serious health and regulatory concerns. These products are often packaged and promoted attractive to young people, creating risks of both intentional and unintentional consumption. Number two, promotion through social media and online platforms. Digital platforms have become powerful, rising influencer marketing and user generated content frequently promote cannabis use as safe, trendy and beneficial contradicting public health evidence. This online environment makes prevention and regulation far more difficult, especially for countries like Sri Lanka that remain committed to upholding the objectives of international drug control conventions. Sri Lanka believes that this topic is vital for CND’s deliberations, because it highlights the gaps between traditional regulatory frameworks and the realities of digital world. Addressing it requires strength international cooperation, updated policy response responses, responsible platform governance and sharing of best practices to safeguard vulnerable populations, particularly youth. We hope this discussion will provide valuable insights on how member states can work collectively to counter misleading and harmful promotion of cannabis while upholding our shared commitment to protecting health and well being.

United States: The core mandate of the CND is a clear and narrow one, to supervise the application of the three international drug control conventions provide policy guidance to member states and monitor the global drug situation. The international drug threat continues to grow more complicated as criminal and terrorist organizations leverage global networks and diversified revenue streams to grow their illicit empires by endangering our citizens and communities. Put simply, international drug control is more important than ever. At the same time that we see drug trafficking organizations growing their empires reach and lethality, we have unfortunately seen the CND veer further away from its stated mandate in pursuit of a broader social agenda that has little to do with stopping drugs from killing people. For example, incorporating radical gender ideology into CND resolutions infringes on states prerogatives to set and enforce their own policies. This distracts the CND and its member states from fighting drugs and crime. Similarly framing the CND’s work in terms of the Sustainable Development Goals is counterproductive. the SDGs established a broad global development agenda that ranges from climate action to poverty reduction, notwithstanding the fact that the 2030 agenda advances a model of soft global governance that impinges on member states’ sovereignty. The SDG topics themselves have little bearing on the mandate of the CND. The SDGs are irrelevant when we are talking about how to stop criminals and terrorists from delivering their poison to our communities, the CND must stay laser focused on that mission and stop wasting time and resources attempting to fulfill an agenda that CND member states do not universally support. It is time the CND returns to its core mandate, countering the world drug program problem. There is meaningful work to be done in this forum, so let’s stop distracting ourselves with divisive political issues while we sit here talking about gender mainstreaming and SDGs, criminal and terrorist organizations are pumping deadly drugs across our borders, endangering our people. That is why it is critical the CND refocus its efforts on disrupting and preventing drug production and trafficking, investigating and prosecuting related crimes and ensuring the safety of our communities. The United States remains committed to working within this forum to achieve those goals.

Bolivia: Today we gather to reflect on the history culture and importance of sacred coca leaf in Bolivia. For centuries, this resource has been an essential part of identity of all people, symbol of resistance, spiritually and hasten ancestral wisdom. The review of coca is not only an act of culture justice, but also an opportunity for economic and scientific development. The responsible industrialization of the leaf opens doors to the new forms of the use in medicine, nutritions, energy and agri industry contributing the diversification in our economy and the creation of employment. Coca is not just a leaf. It is heritage and the future.

Chair: Open the floor on any and all topics.

Mexico: We have been organizing these discussions for a number of years on pseudo, artificial challenges, we are not actually following the policy commitments, identified in the policy documents of 2009, 14 and 16. Couple of excellent examples, Peru is forced to bring alternative development as a new topic, when, in reality, there are more than 40 to 50 specific policy commitments in those documents regarding AD. The same for the issue brought by the European Union, whereas the issue brought by Canada, the poly drug is really a new issue that should merit the proper attention from the Commission, as it was not a reality at that time. Regarding coca leaf, two requests, one comment. The request would be for either UNODC, INCB or WHO to provide a piece of history. In the 1930s the conventions distinguished between coca leaf and cocaine. 1961 the convention pretends that coca leaf is everything. In 1968 when the yellow list appears, we have two entries. We would benefit from knowing what happened there, why the knowledge from the 1930s was lost in 1961 but then it was reflected in the two entries. The other request would be for WHO to learn from what happened with the cannabis recommendations, in terms of framing the recommendations and sending them to us. My comment, with all due respect to all my colleagues, whomever is spreading the rumor that Mexico has set its position on the recommendations is simply lying, basically because our recommendations are not out there yet. We don’t know them, and we don’t know what position we are going to take on them once that they are in our hands.

Australia: I have the pleasure of delivering this statement on behalf of Canada, New Zealand and my own country, Australia, who collectively recognize the key role this commission plays as the central policymaking body for international drug control and drug related matters. We remain committed to supporting the CND’s critical role in addressing the world drug situation. This includes through evidence based approaches that are balanced between law enforcement and public health and which respect human rights. We consider that the international drug control conventions, international human rights treaties and other relevant instruments, are complementary and mutually reinforcing. The obligations established by the drug control conventions cannot be interpreted in isolation and must be consistent with international human rights norms and laws. That is why we support the UNODC’S continued efforts to mainstream gender into all aspects of its work as mandated by member states of this commission in resolution 63. Together as a CND, we recognize the importance of gender mainstreaming in last year’s high level declaration on the CND’s 2024 midterm review, and in our 2019 ministerial declaration. We also appreciate UNODC continued support to states to mainstream gender into the domestic policies and programs as requested by Member States in general Assembly resolution 77 238. Diverse segments of our populations, in particular, women and girls, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and young people all experience drug related harm and are impacted in distinct ways. Globally, we see that women are more likely to face barriers to and greater stigma stigmatization for accessing treatment. We know that sexual and gender based violence has major impacts on women’s drug use and their engagement with treatment services. Women and girls and persons with disabilities are also more likely to face barriers to protective factors such as education and formal employment. Their specific needs and circumstances require tailored policy approaches. That is why this commission has consistently adopted commitments that ensure gender considerations are taken into account at every stage of drug related data collection, policy design and program implementation. Collectively, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have an enduring commitment to gender equality, to the realization of sustainable development goal five, the empowerment of women and all women and girls and the United Nations system has been clear. Gender mainstreaming and the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals are central to the work of all UN agencies. We report that last year’s high level meeting of this commission, ministers and government representatives jointly declared that efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals and to effectively address the world drug problem are complementary and mutually reinforcing. This commission is uniquely positioned to ensure drug control policies respect universal human rights and are aligned with development frameworks. Not only does this lead to more tailored and effective policy outcomes, it strengthens coherence across the UN system to respond to the complex, multi faceted challenges posed by drugs. The Commission’s efforts to mainstream human rights and gender into all its functions is core mandated work, and we strongly supportive of this agenda.

Colombia: As we have emphasized in other fora, the critical review on the classification of the coca leaf under Schedule One of the 1961 single convention on Narcotic Drugs constitutes a historic opportunity to rigorously examine the available evidence, to address a long standing debt on the international control system, to our indigenous peoples, peasants and farmers, Afro descendants, and more broadly, to all communities that have been unnecessarily affected by this Historical mistake. The recently published preliminary report of the WHO expert committee on drug dependence is an important step forward, as it recognizes that the coca leaf presents low toxicity, it is not associated with dependence or abuse, and that ethnographic studies confirm its low potential for addiction. The Expert Committee also highlights potential medical and therapeutic benefits, such as anti oxidant, anti inflammatory, antibacterial, anti diabetic properties, as well as possible contributions to treatments of for Parkinson’s disease and cancer, while at the same time shedding more light on the differentiation between varieties of the leaf, even recognizing the existence of subspecies without any cocaine alkaloid content. The study represents a first step towards understanding the coca leaf beyond cocaine, and towards recognizing the legitimacy of ancestral practices which are part of the cultural heritage of Andean Amazonian peoples. In this regard, Colombia considers that the critical review process should also take into account indigenous evidence, knowledge and value systems as they constitute a living and legitimate knowledge that cannot continue to be rendered invisible. A critical aspect to underscore is that a possible change in the current classification of the coca leaf could have great potential for facilitating scientific research on the leaf. This will be crucial as more evidence will become available to better understand its possible scientific, industrial and traditional uses. Finally, Mr. Chair on this topic, Colombia calls on delegations to consider this preliminary report from a scientific, rigorous and objective perspective, free from prejudice, and to take an active part in the ongoing review process so that the international drug control system may move towards to a more balanced, fair and evidence based treatment of the coca leaf. Alternative development – welcome the conference that will be held in Lima. We approach AD as a long-term strategy to transform territories. Colombia proud to host the largest network of AD projects globally, reaching thousands of families and contributing to stabilization of areas historically vulnerable. This year Colombia has become the main donor to UNODC and we are proud of this achievement. This is a sign of our unwavering commitment. Investing in development is investing in peace and we must prioritize this in the broader framework of drug policy.

Thailand: I’ll add on Lima and possibly Machu Picchu. …

Russia: 3 topics. Alternative development – Russian experts will participate constructively in the conference. … On the promotion of cannabis through social media – Russia takes misuse of internet very seriously. Criminal liability for promoting drug use on the internet and online propaganda on drug abuse was introduced last year. Social media and online platforms used for advertising cannabis and other types of dangerous synthetic substances. Cannabis related products deserve particular attention. Legalisation in countries not only caused harmful misperception on risk in these countries, it has been delivered to children and youth on social media. The negative impact is felt all over the world. This disturbing trend deserves our attention.

Germany: Our joint efforts contributed to the adoption of the guiding principles on alternative development. … Alternative development has been refocused towards human-centered approaches, including …

France: Reiterates commitment to conventions and effective multilateralism which is the only possible path to find solutions. Will continue to support the work of CND and UNODC. Commitment to balanced drug policies. Public health policies are an essential part of drug policies and are naturally within the mandate of the UNODC and CND.  Regarding coca leaf, France is concerned by health and security risk that rescheduling of the coca leaf might entail. Regarding health, …Regarding security and criminal risks, a likely significant increase in the availability of cocaine in the context of high global availability. We will continue to consult information from expert committee.

Peru: 5% of area could fulfil amount needed for traditional use, which is not criminalized or stigmatized. Cocaine is the drug with the fastest growing market. The WDR notes that Peru is the only producing country showing a reduction in the area under cultivation. The report signals that although the coca leaf has limited harms, there is not enough evidence of medical and scientific benefits… the removal of coca leaf from schedules could become a perverse incentive for transnational organized crime… the aim of Peru is to contribute constructively on this complex topic. Peru is confident WHO critical review will continue to safeguard health and wellbeing of future generations.

Argentina: Thank you United States. Full support to the intervention, as it encompasses concerns my delegation has submitted to the CND several times.

CND Chair: I wish for all interventions as brief as Argentina’s.

Singapore: … controls on NPS were heightened, including law enforcement and legal action. … reaffirm commitment to strengthening international cooperation on drug related matters. Singapore shares the view its important to keep CND firmly anchored in its mandate and organizational oversight. The trends remind us of the urgent need to strengthen the global drug control system. The core mandates remain vital to safeguard credibility and balance. Everyone has the right to live free from the harms of drugs.

European Union: Thank you Chair, these conversations make CND vital. Alternative development is one of the perfect examples of what we can achieve when we come together and also diversify funding. …. In this regard, we reaffirm our support to the 10th ADM … On the CND core mandate, we thank the US. The EU and our Member States are the largest financers of the United Nations and would like to see a leaner, reformed and more efficient UN system. The EU upholds human rights as a priority and cannot accept any regression on this. People, planet and health are not ancillary … in the fight against terrorism. … we reiterate support to the UNGASS 2016 Outcome Document as the most comprehensive policy document, the implementation of this outcome document and 2030 agenda should be strongly supported. … highest attainable standard of health, including freedom from stigma and discrimination.

United States: Regarding alternative development, the United States support aggressively dismantling drug trafficking organizations wherever they operate. Addressing multi-drug toxicity – … international collaboration is also critical and timely information sharing can prevent harm. Cannabis – criminal organizations exploit social media to exploit vulnerable youth with false promises. Private sector companies and products play a critical role in either enabling or combatting. Strengthening public-private partnerships is crucial. The “Tech Against Narcotics”, a US-funded initiative organized by the INCB … Governments and the private sector must work together to develop tools to flag harmful content and shut down accounts linked to criminal activity. The coca leaf – the international framework is our best tool to protect against terrorists converting the coca leaf to cocaine. … given this reality and the fact the coca leaf is readily convertible, the US urges ECDD to take into account that it is essential to maintain control. The countries that requested the review have not articulated any benefits of removing it from schedules. Nor have they stated which control is limiting for their national goals. .. removing the coca leaf from Schedule 1 would derail our joint efforts and only reward the narcoterrorists, making it easier for traffickers and undermining any effort to protect the coca leaf in its national state.

African Youth Initiative: The proliferation of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) represents an escalating public health emergency in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly affecting the region’s youth. These substances, synthetically engineered to replicate the effects of conventional illicit drugs, are rapidly gaining popularity due to their accessibility through unregulated online platforms, weak policy enforcement, and limited public awareness. Youths in the region are disproportionately impacted, influenced by curiosity, peer pressure, and socio-economic hardships. The situation is exacerbated by under-resourced health systems, a lack of targeted prevention and education programs, minimal early intervention strategies, and scarce mental health and substance abuse treatment services. Additionally, healthcare providers often lack the necessary training to identify and manage NPS-related disorders effectively. This paper explores the complex and interlinked factors contributing to the rise of NPS use among youths in Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights critical gaps in national legislation, weak cross-border regulatory mechanisms, limited epidemiological data, and the pervasive stigma surrounding drug use, all of which hinder effective responses. In addressing these challenges, the paper calls for a holistic and coordinated regional strategy that emphasizes public health education, community-led awareness campaigns, early warning and surveillance systems, and youth-centered treatment and rehabilitation services. The strengthening of national and regional policy frameworks, investment in research, and cross-sectorial collaboration are crucial to curbing the spread and consequences of NPS. Without urgent and comprehensive intervention, the continued rise of NPS threatens to undermine the health, social stability, and future potential of the region’s young population.

IDPC: I am delivering this statement on behalf of the International Drug Policy Consortium, or IDPC – a global network of nearly 200 NGOs that promote drug policies grounded in human rights and social justice. Thank you Mr Chair, and to the CND and the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, for allowing me to speak today.Excellencies,I want to say a few words about the multidisciplinary panel of independent experts, created by CND Resolution 68/6. Since the adoption of this resolution in March, a lot of work has taken place to lay the groundwork and secure the necessary resources for the panel. And the need for this comprehensive, independent review has become even greater.The Secretary-General’s UN80 Initiative: Shifting Paradigms report, released a few weeks ago, speaks of – quote – “a world scarred by brutal and widespread conflicts, deep inequalities and injustice, flagrant violations of human rights and looming existential threats” – end quote – that are testing the entire United Nations system.In the UN80 spirit of reviewing and strengthening all of the UN’s work, the multidisciplinary panel on drugs has an incredibly important role. The panel will also fulfil the CND’s core mandate as outlined in the 1946 ECOSOC resolution by which it was established: that the CND shall – quote – “consider what changes may be required in the existing machinery for the international control of narcotic drugs” – end quote. The need for change is well-evidenced: the legacy of a fifty-year war on drugs is billions spent, drug markets at an all-time high, and catastrophic public health and human rights consequences around the world.IDPC urges member states to provide the necessary political and financial support to enable the panel to be appointed and to undertake their independent review. As per the CND resolution, the panel should then consult widely and openly with civil society as part of their deliberations – as well as with youth, academia and all relevant UN agencies. We look forward to participating in this process over the coming months, as I am sure all of our NGO partners do as well.In our report “Repairing the Machinery”, IDPC has outlined a number of recommendations for the formation and the work of the panel, as well as exploring best practices from similar independent panels across different UN mandates in the past. The report is available on idpc.net, and it underlines how this once-in-a-generation opportunity for reform must not be wasted.Thank you for your time.

Russian Federation: We’d like to exercise our right of reply.  Earlier today we heard comments regarding some of our region regarding palliative care. … our expert was surprised by such unprofessional opinion. Despite political motivated insinuations of some member states, the school is well informed about these standards and protocols. Moreover, all the relevant information is available on the website of the ministry of health. Would advise interested

United States: Regarding the comments made by Malaysia, we wish to emphasize our regret regarding the effort to politicize our technical discussion with allegations of genocide … The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas’ terrorism. The loss of civilian life in Gaza is tragic, but the responsibility for this rests with Hamas. We should stop the fighting today by bringing the hostages and agreeing to the ceasefire terms already accepted by Israel.

Ukraine: Condemn on behalf of Ukrainian mission the Russian Federation, a country which is conducting aggression. The delegate mentioned sovereign parts of Ukraine, Donetsk, Odessa, the Russians are brutalising people there. …

CND Chair: I hand over for closing remarks to the Director of Treaty Affairs.

UNODC: … These discussions are not a one off event, they are a continuous process towards the final review of our commitments in 2029. Without sustainable funding, we cant sustain the dialogue. Together we can ensure these discussions are not disbursed exchanges. Thank you for a productive session.

CND Chair: We extensively and thoroughly discussed several key and urgent issues related to our progress in fulfilling international drug policy commitment. … I was struck by the commitment from all of you to advancing the core mission of this Commission to develop time tested but also innovative methods to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time. … have this spirit of community. We will have the reconvened session on 4-5 December in Vienna. The meeting is now adjourned.