International Day against Drug Abuse

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Say no to drugs; keep healthy

ISLAMABAD: International Day against Drug Abuse was observed on Friday. On this occasion, United Nation (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in his message: “We must recognize the major impediment to development posed by drug abuse and illicit trafficking. As this year’s theme stresses, it is time to “Think Health, Not Drugs”’. He said that drug abuse poses significant health challenges and most popular means using Injecting drug is a leading cause of the spread of HIV-AIDS, while in some parts of the world, heroin is be used as a drug means and HIV have reached epidemic proportions. Moon added that drug control including prevention and measures to reduce the harmful effects of drug use, is therefore an important part of the battle to combat HIV/AIDS. He added that drugs are also a threat to the environment and Coca cultivation destroys vast swathes of Andean rain forest, the lungs of our planet as well as national parks. He maintained that illicit drug trade also undermines governance, institutions and societal cohesion. Drug traffickers typically seek routes where the rule of law is weak. In turn, drug-related crime deepens vulnerability to instability and poverty. The UN secretary general suggested that to break this vicious circle, it is essential to promote development in drug-growing regions. “Our work to achieve the MDGs and fight drugs must go hand-in-hand. In seeking to eradicate illicit crops, we must also work to wipe out poverty” he added. He urged to National governments across the world must also do their part to eliminate this social and moral evil from the society. “I urge all states to become parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime” he added. He also call on states to live up to their commitments, as Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, to strengthen integrity and reduce the corruption that facilitates the drug trade. On this International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, let us reaffirm our commitment to this shared responsibility within our communities, and among the family of nations.