World Drug Report 2010

[Guest guest]

Dear NGO Representatives,

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched the World Drug

Report 2010 at the National Press Club in Washington on 23 June 2010.

The Report shows that drug use is shifting towards new drugs and new

markets. Drug cultivation is declining in Afghanistan (for opium) and the Andean

countries (coca), and drug use has stabilized in the developed world.

However, there are signs of an increase in drug use in developing countries, and

growing abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and prescription drugs around

the world.

The World Drug Report 2010 exposes a serious lack of drug treatment

facilities around the world. The Report estimates that, in 2008, only around a

fifth of problem drug users world-wide had received treatment in the past year,

which means around 20 million drug dependent people did not receive treatment.

" It is time for universal access to drug treatment " , said Mr.

Costa, UNODC Executive Director at the launch.

The World Drug Report 2010 further contains a chapter on the destabilizing

influence of drug trafficking on transit countries, focusing in particular on

the case of cocaine. It shows how under development and weak governance attract

crime, while crime deepens instability. It shows how the wealth, violence and

power of drug trafficking can undermine the security, even the sovereignty, of

states.

We invite you to read a

<http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2010/June/drug-use-is-shifting-towards-\

new-drugs-and-new-markets.html>

UNODC webstory on the launch of the Report, as well as the

<http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2010.html> electronic

version of the World Drug Report 2010.

Best regards,

___________________________________________

Alun

Chief of Communication and Advocacy

Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

___________________________________________

Forwarded by:

---------------------------

A.SANKAR

EMPOWER INDIA

e-mail: <ttn_empower@...>