“Care in Crises”: UNODC promotes public awareness on drug use and illicit trafficking to mark the World Drug Day  

New Delhi, India/Kathmandu, Nepal/06 July 2022: The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is marked on 26 June every year to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse.

And each year, individuals, communities, and various organizations all over the world, from civil society to the private sector, join in to observe World Drug Day to help raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs pose to society.

The focus of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2022 was “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises”. Ensuring access to controlled medicines, guaranteeing evidence-based care, treatment and services, and preventing negative coping behaviours through support were among the calls to action highlighted both on the day and in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2022.

UNODC participated in an event convened by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and chaired by the state’s Chief Minister to mark the World Drug Day (WDD). Over 10,000 participants from law enforcement agencies, civil society, schools and panchayats (local governments) joined the gathering.

UNODC South Asia’s drug law enforcement expert highlighted the capacity enhancement activities undertaken towards addressing drug use and illicit trafficking. UNODC’s efforts were appreciated by the Chief Minister.

Findings of the World Drug Report 2022 were also shared at a two-day online symposium on Trends on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, organized by the Forensic Science Laboratory, New Delhi.

To raise public awareness against drug use, UNODC-South Asia engaged with young people from six states in India, who pledged their support to UNODC’s efforts and produced artwork for advocacy on the World Drug Day. UNODC also sensitized youth and provided them guidance to create posters, art and doodles to promote the theme of ‘Care in Crisis’. 

In Nepal, UNODC supported the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) in organizing an event, attended by the Home Minister. The event began with a rally followed by a cultural program featuring students to raise community awareness on drug use and illicit trafficking.

UNODC also produced and disseminated posters, stickers and leaflets for educational institutions to raise awareness, besides the publication of the National Master Plan on the prevention and control of narcotic drugs.