Director General/Executive Director
New York, 21 April 2016
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
The challenges posed by the world drug problem continue and change at a pace that is straining the capacities of many health authorities, as well as criminal justice systems, to keep up.
UNGASS recognized in the outcome document that a major emerging challenge includes the unprecedented rise in new psychoactive substances.
These dangerous substances remain outside international control, and their rapid proliferation has led to increased abuse, hospital emergency admissions and in some cases fatalities.
Nevertheless, many countries still lack capacity in identifying and detecting NPS.
At the same time, criminal justice systems are struggling to deal with the use of the Internet, including the darknet, to traffic illicit drugs and drug precursors.
Constraints in confronting this threat include lack of equipment and specialized knowledge, as well as gaps in legislation.
Another continuing challenge facing the international community is the need to improve monitoring and promote evidence-based policies.
UNODC continues to support efforts to address these challenges, through technical assistance, research, and development of guidelines and standards.
These include:
I also urge Member States to consider expanding and promoting early warning and information sharing systems such as the UNODC Early Warning Advisory and global Synthetics Monitoring: Analysis, Reporting and Trends programme, to facilitate preparedness and help enhance capacities to deal with NPS.
UNODC has published several regional and global reports on NPS, and remains committed to ensuring that the international community has authoritative and up-to-date information.
However, we need more funding to strengthen research, both into trends and market dynamics, as well as into treatment options.
Furthermore, in order to address the abuse of new technologies by drug traffickers, we need to strengthen coordination and cooperation mechanisms, as well as support capacity building and provision of technical assistance for all Member States.
Ladies and gentlemen,
These challenges, and many more posed by the world drug problem, will continue to evolve and emerge.
In order to meet them, we need a solid foundation - one built on agreed frameworks, including the three international drug control conventions, informed by evidence and based on the principle of shared responsibility.
Only in this way can we promote the international cooperation and swift, flexible action we need.
Thank you.