June 26 is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking

On 26 June in Brussels, was introduced a new pan-European initiative, the European Action on Drugs (a brochure in Czech is attached for download). More information at www.drogy-info.cz. The director of the anti-drug policy section of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, doc. MUDr. PhDr. Kamil Kalina, CSc. also attended the introduction of the initiative.

Since 2007, an international campaign by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) focussed on increasing awareness of drug issues and the influence of drugs, especially on young people. The goal is to encourage people worldwide to a common approach against drug abuse and trafficking. It calls on young people to put their health first and to say no to drugs.

This year, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking will be accompanied by additional important activities of international organizations, including:

UN Resolution

On the occasion of the International Day Against Drugs, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called on UN member states to improve their strategies in the area of prevention and including the treatment of drug addicts into national health care programmes.

He has called for a thorough enforcement of the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and the UN Convention Against Corruption. "These tools can greatly help in the effort to prevent and control drug-related crime that is posing a serious security threat in many parts of the world…" You can find more information at www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2009.html.

Drugs In Focus with the title of Neurobiological Drug Research: Ethical and Political Aspects

The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction has published its 19th edition of its periodical publication, Drugs in Focus, with the title of Neurobiological Drug Research: Ethical and Political Aspects. You can find out more at www.drogy-info.cz. A monograph with the same name (in English) and a press release are here: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/about/press/news-releases.

Publication of the World Report on Drugs 2009

On 24 June 2009 in Washington D.C., the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) published its World Report on Drugs 2009. The report is an overview of the global drug scene, and maps the main challenges and trends in drug markets.It includes analyses and the newest statistics from the area of drug production, trade and use. Special chapters are devoted to drug use among young people and the impacts of the activities of organised drug crime. More at www.drogy-info.cz.