Context: Recently, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its World Drug Report 2022 on the World Drug Day.

Key hghlights

• Cannabis is still the most widely produced substance.
• Cultivation of opium poppy declines while coca bush cultivation stabilized over the past five years.
• Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Mexico accounted for more than 95% of global opium poppy cultivation during the past five years.
• Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia accounted for virtually all of global coca bush cultivation. 
• The cocaine use is rising again in 2021 after a decline during the pandemic.
• With the legalization of cannabis, the daily usage of the drug has accelerated, with young adults reporting greater use of high-potency products frequently.
• In 2021, drugs accounted for 91 per cent of all sales on the 28 major darknet marketplaces, up from 85 per cent in 2019.

Causes of Drug Abuse

• Lack of law enforcement stopping laboratories engaged in drug production in conflict zones.
• Exposure to trauma and lack of access to economic opportunities.
• Legalization of the cannabis in the United States.

Remedies

• The policy makers across the world should tailor holistic drug-supply reduction strategies.
• The strategy should also encompass economic development and alternative livelihoods in countries where coca bush is illicitly cultivated.
• Drug policy approaches should be integrated into conflict and peacebuilding responses in conflict areas.
• The governments should encourage more complex and deep investigation of transnational crimes, aimed at revealing and dismantling related financial flows.
• These measures will ensure that organized crime groups can’t contribute to instability and violence through the illicit drug trade.
• It is essential that law enforcement agencies operating at key border points exchange information and transfer knowledge at the regional and international levels.
• Misinformation on the impact of the use of cannabis products should be curbed to enable individuals to make decisions based on an accurate perception of the risks.
• Awareness-raising and communication efforts should be undertaken that disseminate scientific information without stigmatizing people who use drugs.

Initiatives to combat Drug abuse

1) The UNODC Strategy 2021-2025

• Aim: To contribute to global peace and security, human rights and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism.

2) UNODC’s Strategic Vision for Africa 2030

• Aim: To provide more safety to Africa’s people, government and institutions from drugs, crime, corruption, terrorism and illicit financial flows.

3) The Global Commission on Drug Policy

• It was created in January 2011 by a group of personalities from the Americas and Europe, including former Heads of State and governments wishing to inspire better drug policy globally.

• Aim: To bring to the international level an informed, science-based discussion about humane and effective ways to reduce the harm caused by drugs to people and societies.

Functions

• The Commission produces technical and political reports to ground evidence-based policy recommendations in human rights, health and development.
• In addition to its flagship annual report, the Commission publishes position papers and other specific research and recommendations.

4) International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC)

• It is a global network of over 192 Non-Governmental Organizations.
• Aim: To promote objective and open debate on drug policy at national, regional and international levels.
• IDPC supports evidence-based policies that are effective at reducing drug-related harm

Initiatives from the Government of India to stop drug abuse

• India launched a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.
• Aim: To reduce adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy involving education, de-addiction and rehabilitation of affected individuals and their families.
• India has enacted the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to prevent and combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking, with an apparent emphasis on supply reduction.
• The National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse was also formed.
• The Ministry of Health has established multiple treatment centres and De-Addiction facilities.
• The Mental Health Care Act (2017) has included alcohol and drug use disorders under its ambit.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

• It was established in 1997.
• UNODC was formed as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division.
• It was renamed the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2002.
• It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
• The agency's focus is the trafficking in and abuse of illicit drugs, crime prevention and criminal justice, international terrorism, and political corruption.

Objectives

• To better equip governments to handle drug-, crime-, terrorism-, and corruption-related issues.
• To maximise knowledge on these issues among governmental institutions and agencies
• To maximise awareness of said matters in public opinion, globally, nationally and at community level.
• Funding: 90% of the Office's funding comes from voluntary contributions, mainly from governments.