United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made statements on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26. Guterres stated that the illicit drug trade harms people and societies, while also fueling violence, crime and instability.
In a post on his X social media platform account, Guterres drew attention to the fact that the proliferation of synthetic drugs and the growth of online trafficking networks are deepening this crisis. The Secretary-General said, "We must reaffirm our commitment to bold, innovative and science-based solutions."
History of the International Day
The UN General Assembly, with its resolution 42/112 adopted on December 7, 1987, declared June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This resolution is considered an expression of the determination to strengthen activities and cooperation towards the goal of creating an international society free from drug addiction.
The resolution also includes additional measures shaped on the basis of the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in 1987. Every year, to support this special day, individuals, communities and various organizations come together to raise awareness about the problem of drug use.
Changing Dynamics of the Global Drug Trade
According to UN data, the scale of drug consumption worldwide and the variety of drugs released on the market have been increasing in recent decades. The century-long dominance of heroin in global illicit opioid markets is increasingly being challenged by changes in the illicit opioid supply.
While cocaine production, seizure rates and consumption continue to rise, the low production cost and low detection risk of synthetic drugs are accelerating their rise in illicit markets. Drug trafficking gangs, which have annual turnovers amounting to billions of dollars, closely follow technological innovations to reach new audiences and ensure wider distribution among consumers.
As illicit drug markets adapt to changing conditions, organized crime groups continue to exploit gaps in governance and regulation.
Ridvan Sezer | Editor-in-Chief
