Commission on Narcotic Drugs, highlights

The body overseeing UN drug policies met last week in Vienna. This year emphasis was on prevention. Legal high was addressed too. (16.03.10)

Prevention

There were three resolutions passed on prevention this year. One section of the thematic debate was designated for prevention issues too. For CND this was relatively new. Normally most debates are centred on supply reduction, trafficking and related and often technical issues.

During the previous CNDs there have been debates on demand reduction but these have often been overshadowed by controversial battles for or against harm reduction. This polarized situation seems to have blocked a debate on prevention.

In addition this years INCB report (International Narcotics Control  Board) included a thematic chapter on prevention too.

One of the resolutions (US) was on community based prevention with an emphasis on identifying risk factors and protective factors at local level. The Nordic resolution stressed the need for universal prevention at early stages and to consider the association between early use of illicit drugs, social exclusion and crime. The resolution from Peru was in particular concerned with the situation for children; pointing at the need for school based education.

The need for more prevention was a theme that was picked up by many delegations. The EU devouted much of its opening remarks to primary prevention, stressing that based on evidence, prevention has “considerable potential to reduce drug demand”.

Legal High

In addition there were two resolutions on legal high, one on Spice and one on Poppers. Both resolutions raised concern over the spread of these substances and called upon Member States to consider banning them under national law.

The resolution on Poppers warns against its many health consequences. The resolution on Spice notes that several countries have already placed some synthetic cannabinoids in Spice products on the list of substances controlled under their national legislation. The UN calls upon Member States to “consider controlling the use of synthetic cannabinoids in Spice products by placing them on the list of substances under national control".

New director of UNODC

UNODCs controversial director general Antonio Maria Costa announced that he is stepping down this year. There is apparently already a process underway to select a new director. Costa has been a very high profile head of the organization. He was selected to lead the UNODC in 2002. He is on the one hand known for his political skills and on the other for his blunt statements and sometimes abrasive style. Costa has no doubt been a vigorous defender of the UN treaties, and he has not minced words when addressing calls for drug legalization.

He has promoted issues and angles that has moved the UNODC towards a more pragmatic middle ground in drug policy. He published a discussion paper in 2008 that addressed harm reduction within a comprehensive drug strategy which was crucial in order to handle the polarization of that particular debate. He has also spear headed cooperation with WHO and UNAIDS on issues like treatment and HIV/Aids.

The poor countries

In his speech he pointed at the need for to rich countries to recognize that even though we are the biggest consumers of drugs, the poorer developing countries suffers disproportionally and their prospects are worrying.

“Dealing with drug addiction cannot be afforded in poor countries that already face gigantic health, education and unemployment problems. As a consequence, in the South levels of addiction are low, but the incidence rates are growing.”

Costa’s point is that in a global perspective the rich countries fight against drugs is important for the poor ones to succeed in their efforts.