The 2014 World Drug Report was launched in Vienna on 26 June, on the United Nations International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, in a special event that took place within the framework of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The Report provides a global overview of the latest developments with respect to opiates, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines (including "ecstasy") as well as the health impact of drug use and addresses the control of precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs.
At the special event, key data and findings contained in the 2014 World Drug Report were presented and an opportunity to provide comments and exchange views was given to participants representing Member States, inter-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC, appealed for a stronger focus on the health and human rights of all drug users, but particularly those who inject drugs and are living with HIV. "There remain serious gaps in service provision. In recent years only one in six drug users globally has had access to or received drug dependence treatment services each year, " he said, stressing that some 200,000 drug-related deaths had occurred in 2012.
As the Commission on Narcotic Drugs has started preparations for the 2016 United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem, it is expected that the discussions will feed into the intersessional preparatory process and the Report will serve as one of the key information source for Member States in their preparations for the 2016 Special Session.
