This past World Health Day (April 7th), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched its global campaign against drugs. “Drug control is not just about security, it’s about health. Drug dependence is an illness, and should be prevented and treated as such”, said the Executive Director of the UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa. UNODC’s international drug campaign will run until 26 June 2009 which is World Drug Day (International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking).

UNODC’s 2009 campaign with the slogan “Do drugs control your life?” is being targeted at young people in order to encourage them to take care of their health and empower them not to take drugs. “Some people are pro-drugs, we are pro-health”, said Mr. Costa.
Around 200 million people take drugs at least once a year. Of these, 25 million are regarded as drug dependent. Every year 200,000 people die from drug-related illnesses.
Young people are more susceptible to drug use. Prevalence of drug use among young people is more than twice as high as drug use among the general population; three times as high in the case of cannabis. “Much more needs to be done to provide young people with the skills, information and opportunities to lead healthy and fulfilling lives”, said Mr. Costa.

The young are also more vulnerable to the effects of drug use. Because their brains are still developing, by taking drugs they are more at risk of memory loss, behavioural problems and even psychosis.

“There is a lot of talk about legalizing drugs to stop crime. But making drugs more readily available would create a public health disaster and condemn a proportion of every generation to addiction”, said Mr. Costa. “Governments do not need to choose between public health and public security – they should do both. On World Health Day – and everyday – governments should make health the first principle of drug control.”