Bulletin on narcotics最新文献

The World Assembly of Youth (WAY), a non-governmental organization promoting the cultural and economic advancement of youth, includes in its programme activities the prevention of youth substance abuse and assistance to the large number of youth currently using drugs. Recognizing that the problem stems from the user, WAY works to provide information and alternatives leading to a responsible decision on the part of youth regarding their consumption.

The International Association of Airport and Seaport Police is an international organization comprised of law enforcement agencies. Its responsibility is to enforce criminal law at airports and seaports, ensuring that those facilities are not used for illicit activity. The Association was established in March 1970 to satisfy a long-standing need to improve coordination and communication among security agencies of the world's major commercial ports and facilities. Programmes have been developed and implemented that contribute to reducing the incidence of drug smuggling and related criminal activity. The Association stands ready to assist its members, as well as others involved in dealing with illicit drug activity.

The present article contains a factual description of the main objectives of Caritas Internationalis (CI), together with a brief summary of the activities of various national branches of the organization in the field of drug abuse prevention. The activities are mainly educational campaigns aimed especially at the young and various treatment programmes for persons already dependent on drugs. CI has programmes in many different countries throughout the world. The conclusion provides an outline of the future priorities of CI and refers to the desire of the organization to cooperate more closely with other non-governmental organizations with similar objectives and approaches.

The present article provides a description of some of the principles that are considered by Baha'i communities in developing programmes for the prevention of drug abuse that target the individual, the family and society. The individual is helped to develop a sense of purpose, a feeling of self-esteem and respect for others, a state of maturity making it possible for him or her to evaluate circumstances objectively and to postpone immediate gratification for a future goal, a feeling of responsibility, and spiritual orientation, which can help the individual to develop positive attitudes towards himself or herself and the environment. Parents are encouraged to promote love and unity, as well as a drug-free lifestyle, so that children are provided with healthy models. The family experience is also intended to help children to cope with stress and other problems of daily life. By means of education, society at large is encouraged to adopt positive attitudes towards health and to promote activities that lead to the elimination of isolation.

The International Prisoners Aid Association (IPAA) is concerned with the rehabilitation of offenders, including drug offenders. IPAA does not have the financial and human resources to establish working programmes for drug abuse control or for the treatment of drug-dependent persons. It does, however, contribute to efforts at the international level to combat the drug problem by supporting non-governmental agencies in different countries involved in the rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons and the prevention of drug abuse, by disseminating knowledge and information on current developments in the field among concerned members of the world community and by promoting and publishing cross-cultural research dealing with the drug problem at the preventive/control and treatment levels. IPAA has participated in international and regional conferences and seminars dealing with drug abuse, and numerous items on drug-related issues have been published in the IPAA Newsletter and in occasional reports. The present article provides a brief overview of the work of IPAA as it relates to drug control.

The Salvation Army has been involved in the control of drug abuse since it was founded over 120 years ago, when alcohol was the predominant concern. Today, alcohol is still the most commonly abused substance, but the Salvation Army is increasingly tackling other forms of substance abuse as well. High priority is given to prevention of all levels and by all means through a network of over 200 specialized rehabilitation centres throughout the world, in addition to programmes within hostels for the homeless, where there is a high proportion of alcohol and other substance abusers. The Salvation Army endeavours to help drug-dependent persons to abstain from using drugs and achieve a healthy and happy life. It is of the view that, as drug dependence is usually a manifestation of deeper needs, the spiritual component is vital in dealing with drug abuse of all types.

The present article is an attempt to demonstrate that a broad-based approach to matters directly affecting children, with special emphasis on meeting their non-material and spiritual needs, can effectively contribute to drug abuse prevention, in particular, by promoting personal values that encourage constructive use of goods and time. The International Catholic Child Bureau (ICCB) has adopted its approach to drug abuse prevention, particularly in respect of "street children", and, through its vast network of experts and practitioners familiar with intercultural and interdenominational education, has implemented a number of projects in Africa, Europe and Latin America, primarily involving the use of therapeutic communities, workshops and "street educators". The religious dimension of the work of ICCB is particularly important because it highlights a fundamental aspect for youth of all cultures, i.e. integrated preparation for life as responsible members of the community. ICCB is of the view that it is imperative to provide children with possibilities for a life that is free of substance dependence, once they are able to make the right decisions.

With the adoption of the Declaration and the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control by the International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (ICDAIT) in 1987 and the formulation in 1988 of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the United Nations has made significant contributions to international drug control policy, in line with its responsibilities under article 55 of the Charter. Governments are acting, separately and through regional and other collective organizations, to adapt these policies to their own particular needs and to make the legislative changes needed to enable ratification of the new Convention. Simultaneously, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs continues to carry out its policy-making function by identifying areas of concern on which consensus can be achieved as well as appropriate techniques for achieving effective international co-operation as foreseen in the Charter of the United Nations. The present article draws attention to recent developments pointing to possible areas of policy formulation. These include enhanced cooperation of law enforcement agencies with overlapping jurisdictions; judicial methodology and inter-system co-operation to follow on from seizures from the illicit traffic and detention of suspects to consideration of treatment methodology; and adaptation of demand reduction techniques to target groups beyond the reach of formal educational institutions. The trend towards horizontal integration of trafficking networks is examined in the context of indications linking illicit traffic in psychotropic substances to the production and trade of chemical weapons, such as poison gas, and to the cultivation of new markets in response to the saturation of certain North American markets for specific illicit drugs.