3rd LD Writethru: UN General Assembly passes outcome document to counter world drug problem

The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted an outcome document to tackle the emerging challenges in the fight against illicit drug use at a special session on world drug problem.

The document asks for taking effective prevention measures that protect youth from drug use initiation and adopting practical measures to address severe drug use disorders through early interventions.

It also calls for strengthening measures at the international, regional, national and local levels to prevent drug-related crime and violence, and meanwhile integrate such measures into overall law enforcement efforts.

"We recognize that the world drug problem remains a common and shared responsibility that should be addressed in a multilateral setting through effective and increased international cooperation and demands an integrated, multidisciplinary, mutually reinforcing, balanced, scientific evidence-based and comprehensive approach," said the document agreed by heads of state and government, ministers, and representatives of member states attending the session.

Earlier on Tuesday, the UN General Assembly opened the three-day high-level special session to discuss new approaches to counter the world drug problem.

UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft, while delivering his opening remarks, said it is essential to counter the world drug problem for public health, human rights as well as sustainable development of the international community.

"This special session provides an opportunity to assess the achievements, the shortcomings and the challenges of the international drug control regime," said UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

Drug abuse causes tragic and terrible human costs to users and, not least, to their families and to their communities, Eliasson further noted. "It kills and injures millions of people. It is linked to the spread of HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis."

According to the World Drug Report 2015, it is estimated 246 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 years used an illicit drug in 2013. Among them, some 27 million people are problem drug users, or those suffering from drug use disorders or drug dependence.

Drug use can be prevented and drug use disorders can be treated through a public health approach based on science and evidence, said Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).

She noted a comprehensive package of interventions launched by the WHO to achieve these objectives, and some of the most effective interventions aimed to reduce the harm associated with the injection of drugs.

The session which runs from April 19-21 includes a plenary meeting and five separate multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions.

Discussions will be on drugs and health, drugs and crime, drugs and human rights, youth, women, children and communities, prevention of drug problems, as well as development-oriented, balanced drug control policy and cooperation. Endit