"The United Nations observes designated days, weeks, years, and decades, each with a theme, or topic. By creating special observances, the United Nations promotes international awareness and action on these issues".
UNODC observes 26 June as the “INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING” , established by the UN General Assembly in 1987. This observance manifests to further escalate UN’s resolve in creating a drug free society by reducing both demand as well as supply of illicit drugs and increasing awareness among general masses regarding drugs abuse.
Each Year UNODC selects themes for International Drug Day and launches campaigns to raise public appreciation regarding the global drug issue and its effects on complete humanity. Past Observance themes were :
“ As per the World Drug Report 2015, Some 32.4 million people - or 0.7 per cent of the world's adult population - are users of pharmaceutical opioids and opiates such as heroin and opium. In 2014, global potential opium production reached 7,554 tons - the second highest level since the 1930s, mainly due to its cultivation increasing significantly in Afghanistan, the main growing country. The global seizures of heroin, meanwhile, increased by eight per cent, while illicit morphine seizures decreased by 26 per cent from 2012 to 2013.”
26th June - International Drug Day in PakistanThe magnitude of drug menace not only undermines global public health, socio-economic synopsis and international stability, it has also become an issue of National Security for Pakistan. Pakistan itself is a poppy free country, but its population became a victim of regional opiate production. We are facing the brunt of trafficking of opiates and cannabis from the West, precursors from the East and Amphetamine Type Stimulants from elsewhere.
Each year International Drug Day is celebrated by Anti Narcotics Force. ANF celebrate Drug Day in a wholesome manner so as to generate a strong message for the international community and domestic masses for general awareness and society’s participation by introducing a variety of drug demand awareness activities in addition to drug burning ceremonies.
“According to the UNODC Annual Survey of Pakistan 2013, an estimation of 6% of Pakistan’s population uses illicit drugs. Cannabis is the most commonly used drug being consumed by almost 4 million people. It is followed by opioids with a respective consumption of almost 0.86 million persons for Heroin and 0.32 million for Opium. The vast majority of users were men, and among both men and women who reported past year use, education levels were lower than among non-users.”
Pakistan’s greatest asset, the youth that comprise 66% of the population and is our future, is the worst affected. Protecting our youth and the coming generation from the menace is inevitable for prosperous future of Pakistan. To protect our youth and our national security Anti Narcotics Force under the insight of Ministry of Interior, is working tirelessly in coordination with other law enforcing agencies of Pakistan.
“Anti Narcotics Force has a strategic role in fight against the drugs. ANF was initiated by converging PNCB and ANTF in 1995. Assigned with countering narcotics trafficking, ANF ensured implementation of ANF Act 1997, by conducting drug law enforcement operations through its field components, across the whole country. Working in close co-ordination with other law enforcement agencies, ANF has effectively curtailed the drug cultivation & trafficking throughout Pakistan.”
Under the policy guidelines provided by NCD and with the cooperation of our allied countries, civil society and the media, ANF is doing the best it can and has had significant successes in all three regimes of operation i.e. Drug Supply Reduction, Drug Demand Reduction and International Cooperation. Men and women of ANF are fully committed to protecting our compatriots from the peril at cost of risk to their own lives. The organization has sacrificed 12 of our best enforcers to this cause.
ANF is also playing a lead role in mass awareness and community participation programmes to educate the people against drug abuse as Drug Demand Reduction has always been an important segment of our Strategy. ANF besides many awareness ventures runs 3 Model Addiction and Treatment Centres (MATRCs) at Rawalpindi, Quetta and Karachi and since their raising over twelve thousand patients have been treated.
