Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Topic: B
Strengthening a Human Rights And Public Health Based Approach to Diseases Related to Drug Abuse
Submitted by: ArgentinaSchool: Andrews Osborne Academy
Those suffering from drug use also suffer from the stigma associated with them. Around the world, diseases such as HIV are spread everyday by transmission through needles used for drugs, and these cases are heavily and primarily concentrated in areas stricken with poverty. The people affected are often deprived of proper education and medical care, causing an increase in both drug use and related diseases. In Argentina, a national study in 1999 determined that 2.9% of the population between 16 and 64 years of age had used illegal drugs in the previous month; 3.6% had a lifelong use of cocaine, and 9.6% of cocaine users injected it. Based on these results, the number of cocaine injectors has been estimated at 50,000 men and 14,500 women. In 1985, the first case of IDU AIDS was reported, and from that time countless others have emerged. Furthermore, a total of 94% reported AIDS cases among injection drug users is heavily concentrated in metropolitan centres (Source 1). There is also the great medical concern over addiction. The government of Argentina is currently taking a liberal and less stringent approach, which in no way is contributing to a decrease in drug use or related diseases, and this policy is in need of reform.
“Paco” is the byproduct of cocaine that is sweeping the streets of Argentina, and Anthony Bale states that “The UN estimates that the number of paco users in Argentina has tripled in the last two years, and some argue that the government is not doing enough to address the problem”. The reason for the dramatic increase in users is due to the cheapness of the drug, as it toxic byproducts of cocaine which can be combined with substances such as sulphuric acid, kerosene, rat poison and even crushed glass. It may only cost 2-3 pesos a day for a hit, however it is highly addictive and users often have up to 100 hits a day, and it is estimated that 1-10 people did a day from Paco. While there are some groups in place such as Revivir and Mothers AgainstPaco, they are not affiliated with the government, and the government continues to turn a blind eye in regard to both awareness and funding towards finding and convicting dealers and providing help to users. The first step that must be taken is raising awareness towards the issue and increasing government involvement and funding. Rehab and education programs should also be provided for those suffering from addiction and diseases such as IDU AIDS, and a specific outreach in areas most heavily afflicted by poverty.
Brazil: Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Brazil recognizes the issue concerning drug abuse and currently shows its position by its ongoing attempt to end trafficking. Today, the country's growing middle class is believed to be the cause for the sudden upsurge in narcotic drug smuggling and sales.Drug trafficking has become extremely common in Brazil, in particularly dealing with the extremely addictive substance, cocaine. Currently, Brazil attempts to control this problem by having police regularly patrol the borders. Citizen reports are also used to help track down and locate suspects and deals involving drug trade.
Brazil shares half of its 16,000 km border with the three largest cocaine producers in the world: Peru, Columbia, and Bolivia. This contributes to the growing threat of drug abuse as well as the number of issues concerning cocaine Brazil already deals with. The country acknowledges the need for continual border patrols that it already has in place, but it is also open to other ideas concerning drug control in hopes of reducing the number of cases of abuse.
In addition to police action, Brazil also sees the importance of providing educational classes in hopes of informing citizens on the benefits of drugs, danger of abuse, and consequences of illegal action. Brazil recognizes the benefits of narcotic drugs and sees them as helpful substances in correct proportions.Though narcotics offer the potential for extreme addiction and substance abuse, they also have great medicinal benefits. They provide an avenue for pain relief, relief for glaucoma, ease seizures, and slow the spread of cancer.
For these reasons, Brazil proposes the idea of providing educational classes on both the benefits and dangers of narcotics as well as introducing centers dedicated to the purpose of keeping narcotics monitored and used solely for medicinal purposes. By monitoring individuals use and providing the doses of narcotics at the centers, Brazil believes they can reduce drug abuse and promote the proper use of narcotics in correct proportions.
Submitted by: Cambodia
What drug users don’t know, are hurting them.The list of potential diseases to be contracted due to drug abuse is extremely excessive and continues to expand with the advancement of medical sciences. The less severe side effects of harmful substances tend to be known, but the serious and far more fatal diseases that could be contracted by drug abuse tend to be unknown to drug users. Chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, multiple cancers, liver failure, endocarditis, hepatitis, HIV, insomnia, depression, and psychosis are all diseases known to be linked directly to drug usage, and could be prevented, and in some instances completely avoided, if the drug abuse is ceased. The concept of addressing drug abuse by appealing to the issue from a human rights and public health perspective makes the topic far more accessible to the public. People tend to be more attracted to and interested in topics relating to human rights and public health because it typically feels like a more personal topic and tends to make them think not only of their personal relationship to the issue at stake, but of their parent’s, sibling’s, spouse’s, and children’s relationship to the issue. When the goal is to appeal to the emotional, human nature of the public, relating the potentially fatal but certainly life-altering diseases to drug usage, may be highly effective in changing drug user’s habits.
The government of Cambodia has deemed drugs such as cannabis, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ketamine as illegal but the laws are not very well enforced. Cannabis especially, is used by natives and tourists alike in public areas, and as long as users do not cause any disturbances then they typically remain untouched by the police. Drug trade also occurs in high rates within the country and the nation function as a point of the Drug Trade Golden Triangle, supplying harmful substances to Southeast Asia and the United States. A main reason that drug law enforcement does not take place within Cambodia’s borders is that most policing units feel that they have more pressing issues to be concerned with, and shouldn’t be bothered with what they view as somewhat of a petty issue. Due to this mindset by the country’s police officers, the responsibility of protecting against the harmful effects of substance abuse falls to a direct relationship between the government and the Cambodian citizens themselves. Addressing this issue by utilizing this direct linkage method, is currently a very pertinent issue considering the steady increase in numbers of both children and adults that are contracting HIV/AIDS through the usage of intravenous needles for drug administration.
The delegation of Cambodia suggests that the CND could consider providing clinics dispersed throughout countries struggling with drug usage related diseases. These clinics would serve a dual function. The first function would be to provide immediate healthcare for infected individuals and the second function would be to educate users or potential users of the harmful effects of contracting substance abuse related diseases. In providing free medical care, there would be an attraction to the clinics, which in turn would result in more people becoming educated on drug related diseases. In widening the range of those that were affected by the education and were prompted to make more responsible choices regarding substance abuse, a greater positive difference in public health would be made. The resources to make this suggestion possible are numerous. The CND and the WHO could work in conjunction to generate the clinics and could call upon associated NGO’s of either or both committees, including the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, UNAIDS, and Fontana. Creating a network of clinics across interested nations would allow for the convenient sharing of not only methods of education, but also completed research, which could potentially lead to finding a pattern in HIV/AIDS or other drug related diseases, and advancing the medical research related to them. Once implemented, this suggested solution could be very effective in reducing drug abuse throughout all involved nations, while also preventing the contraction of harmful, potentially fatal drug related diseases.
Works Cited
"Cambodia Office."UNODC.UNODC, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <
"Cambodia's Alarming New Drug Law."Open Voices. Open Society Foundation, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <
"Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Care."UNODC.UNODC, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <
"Treating Addiction as Health, Not Legal, Issue." The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction.National Institute on Drug Abuse, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. <
Submitted by: China
As of now the United Nations has launched an attack combatting drug use and drug cartels. Heading this front is is the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, who have been working tirelessly since 1946 to defeat this ever growing problem. Despite the UN’s best efforts, the use of narcotics has not declined, making the war on drugs a losing war on the side of the CND. The UN will continue to expand the war on drugs even further until there is a decline of narcotic drug use world wide. The CND meet on March 11-15 2013 in Vienna Austria, seeking to expand the war on drugs even further. The number of unintentional overdose deaths per year involving opioid pain relievers (e.g., oxycodone and hydrocodone) nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2007, rising from 2,900 to 11,500, while overdose deaths due to these drugs in 2007 were nearly twice those due to cocaine, and over 5 times those due to heroin.
China, along with many other nations is currently helping to fight the war on drugs. The UN notes that previous enforcement efforts have not stopped drug use, warning of "steadily increasing inroads into various social groups made by illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances." It cautions that the drug trade and related activities "undermine the legitimate economies and threaten the stability, security and sovereignty of States." The sense of urgency is underscored by the image of innocent boys and girls being exploited.
China has a seemingly unrelenting problem with illegal drug use, as seen in many countries internationally. Presently, China is combatting drug use particularly in Beijing, notably among the entertainment industry, as enforcements there will echo warnings throughout society. China hopes to see a decline not only internally but around the world. One way of stopping the use of narcotics is by stopping the spread of narcotics, notably through higher profile security in airports and international borders where drugs can be traded. If narcotics become more hazardous, and dangerous to distribute around the world, the global price of narcotics will increase, and with this increase in price there will be a significant decline in the use and abuse of narcotic drugs and drug related crimes.
Colombia
Today a plague ravages the world, and it is not Ebola. Instead; the plague is diseases linked to drug abuse. This issue has arisen due to the ever growing drug trade to the rise in addictions to those drugs. Drug addiction in Columbia is classified as a public health disorder; however, in some nations it is just classified as a lack of self-control. Unfortunately, instead of rehabilitation drug abusers are imprisoned and do not receive the proper treatment they need. Drug addiction is an epidemic plaguing most parts of this world mainly targeting young adults and impoverished nations. Another problem that comes along due to drug addiction is the negative support of the community towards the poor soul suffering from the health problem. If being jailed and looked down upon isn’t enough, the chance that the person does become clean they are very likely to relapse, due to their economic situation.
The Committee on Narcotic Drugs is a key component in helping the world with educating and preventing the use of drugs. Recently In 2014 the CND passed a resolution encouraging countries to base their drug policy off of scientific research, in order to prevent drug abuse. This resolution also expanded the idea of protecting children from drug abuse. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is an arm of the United Nations that helps organize all the NGO’s that are involved in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, alternative development, crime prevention and criminal justice reforms, Also they lead the world in fighting illicit drugs and international crime. The NGO called Anti-Narcotics Association located in Europe helps any issues relating to the topics of prevention, education, and rehabilitation. ANA is one of the leading European NGO that is currently working all across the EU.
Columbia is in strong support of rehabilitation of the individual afflicted by any drug related issue or addiction. The idea is to create rehabilitation centers all across the world’s highest rated areas, which are plagued by drug abuse. Columbia would also encourage the rest of the worlds to update their medical definition of addiction to define it as a health problem rather than lack of self-control. Columbia also proposes to educate less fortunate civilians to help teach them the effects of the drugs and, also to teach supportive ideals to civilians to help encourage citizens to help anyone afflicted drug abuse and drug addiction. After being reintegrated back into society the citizen can have their record cleaned of they pass a UN Regulated test.
Country: France
Around the world addiction is treated almost as a choice. The public believes it to be a show of character, and those who are addicted are considered lesser in society. Around the world addiction is treated as a crime under law, and users are punished with fees and jail time. This is wrong, speaking from a purely technical stand point. While addiction is not something that appears out of nowhere, and must be gained by taking some sort of substance, legal or not, it is still a disease and must be treated accordingly. Like many diseases, a person’s age, gender, race, or ancestry are huge players in your likelihood of becoming addicted, meaning that while some can come off of prescription drugs and continue life as before, many cannot, and turn to illegal drugs once their prescription is over. This is why France believes that drug addiction and other related diseases need to be treated as such, and not purely as a crime.
French law does include a rather hefty fine for drug use and potential imprisonment, but an awareness program is offered and often court ordered, to help people get back on track instead of putting them back in the same situation that led to addiction in the first place. In extreme cases, court medical supervision is given, for people who can’t stop themselves and need more help.
In conclusion, France wishes to move forward in helping people recover from addiction in a more humane way than pure punishment, and to provide help for those who need it. Addiction is a disease, not a choice, and can be cured with effort and kindness.
Work Sited
“Illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco: what does French law say?” French Drug Laws
-Accessed 2/17/2015
”International – France” Drug Use and Addiction Statistics
-1998-2014, Accessed 2/17/2015
Submitted by GuatemalaSchool: Lakewood
Illegal drugs have affected the health of nations around the world, and Guatemala is a nation that has been severely harmed by the amount of illicit drugs used. Approximately 3.82% of men 15 and older are addicted to alcohol, and 1% of men are addicted to illicit drugs, according to WHO statistics. These addictions contribute negatively to our nation’s health, as diseases such as addiction, cancer, and depression can be caused by drug abuse.
As a developing nation, Guatemala does not have the capabilities to both stop the drug trade, and provide adequate treatment to those who abuse drugs. Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina referenced this dilemma in a speech at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in which he said “We cannot continue doing the same thing and expect different results,” after 52 years of vigorous anti-drug policies. Guatemala believes that the most effective way to end drug abuse is provide education and adequate healthcare for voluntary participants. Currently, the only treatment for substance use disorders in Guatemala is provided by the National Anti-drug Commission of Guatemala, but only three psychologists and one general practitioner are employed. This shows the need for NGOs to provide health care in developing nations, as Treatnet, an “international network of drug treatment and rehabilitation centers,” created by the UN, does in numerous nations around the world. Health care for those who abuse drugs will promote greater health by treating those individuals and also will help them on their road to sobriety. Guatemala also feels that anti-drug education is the most effective way to prevent people from using and possibly abusing narcotics and alcohol. Guatemala has seen NGOs based upon drug education work at both local (such as New Dehli’sSwashritSociety), and international (such as the International Drug Awareness Research Foundation and DARE) levels, so we call upon CND to create a system of drug education programs in developing nations, similar to UN’s Treatnet. With a combination of drug education and healthcare for those who willingly seek it, we can lower rates of drug abuse not only in Guatemala, but the world.