International Narcotics Control Board releases 2014 Annual Report 

 

Vienna, 4 March 2015 - Each year, the International Narcotics Control Board - INCB - publishes a report bringing analyzes on the drug control situation, drawing the attention to the compliance with treaties and recommending improvements at the national and international levels.

The Annual Report for 2014 brings the information that 75% of people worldwide have no access to pain relief drugs. According to the INCB, there was also a 66% increase in world's consumption of methylphenidate, a stimulant used primarily in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

About 5.5 billion people still have little or no access at all to medicines containing drugs such as codeine and morphine, depriving 75% of the world population of access to adequate treatment for pain relief, it was affirmed by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), based in Vienna (Austria), on Tuesday (03), in its Annual Report 2014. The report also says that approximately 92% of the morphine used worldwide is consumed by only 17% of the world population; those living mainly in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The document also points out that, last year, there was an 11% increase in the number of new psychoactive substances, with 388 unique substances identified in 2014, compared to the 348 the previous year. The extent of the use of new psychoactive substances worldwide illustrates the dynamic nature of the problem of these drugs. 

The reports are based on information that governments and international organizations send to INCB. The Annual Report is enhanced by detailed reports on drugs, narcotic and psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals - which can be used in the illicit drugs' manufacturing.

Learn more about this publication clicking here: www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2015/incb_2015.html

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