Unisa online - A century of drug control --- achievements and challenges

Mr David Bayever (CDA), Prof David Mosoma, Dr Jonathan Lucas (UNODC)
& Dr Ray Eberlein (CDA)

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with Unisa and the Central Drug Authority (CDA), launched the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) 2008 Annual Report in the Senate hall (Muckleneuk campus) on 19 February 2009. The INCB Annual Report is available for download via http://www.incb.org/incb/annual-report-2008.html.

A great deal has changed in the last century in narcotics control. One hundred years ago, drugs were unregulated and widely abused, with record high levels of consumption for non-medical purposes.

Fast forward a century and the progress is evident. Starting in 1909, the first steps to counter the overwhelming global drug problem were taken when the International Opium Commission convened in Shanghai, China, in 1909. This marked the beginning of the international drug control treaty system.

As the independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions, the INCB has been instrumental in tracking drug demand across the world. The 2008 INCB Annual Report looks back at the past 100 years --- both at the achievements made and the challenges faced. One chilling challenge highlighted in the report is that West Africa is rapidly developing into a major smuggling route for cocaine from Latin America through and into Europe. The drug makes its way through West Africa, where it is stockpiled and repackaged for transport. West African countries do not have the means to counter this challenge.

Traffickers are also using Africa, particularly Central Africa, as a trans-shipment area for precursors such as ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Weak legislation against trafficking in precursor chemicals in most African countries makes it easy to obtain chemicals for illicit drug manufacture. Cannabis continues to be the most abused drug in Africa and the region also shows an increase in the abuse of that drug. It is illicitly cultivated and smuggled through the region, into Europe and North America. The major concern is that the potency of the drug has increased and the addictive nature of the substance is indicated by the sudden increase in people in South Africa seeking assistance for cannabis addiction.

A clear message that emerges from the report is that governments and civil society should continue to take action to address drug abuse and illicit trafficking in a comprehensive, sustained and concerted manner. Therein lies the solution to the world drug problem.

Mr David Bayever, Deputy Chairperson of the Central Drug Authority (CDA), also highlighted a number of worrying South African trends. He said that substance abuse is the primary underlying cause of crime, violence and HIV/Aids in the country. Other trends are as follows:

One rand in four in circulation in our country is linked to the substance abuse problem.
The growing use of Tik is a chilling concern.
Alcohol is often a gateway to drug abuse. South Africa is placed at number ten in the world.
More female students are using heroin.
The starting age of abuse is now 12 and younger, and drug dealers are targeting schools.

On a more positive note, Mr Bayever emphasised the large increase of drug seizures by the SAPS and SARS, and paid tribute to them for the sterling work they are doing.

A memorandum of understanding between the UNODC and Unisa has been signed to strengthen cooperation and information exchange in the areas of research on criminal justice issues, particularly around organised crime, corruption, trafficking of persons, terrorism and money laundering.

Staff are also invited to the release of the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons on Wednesday 25 February 2009. Click here for the invitation.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is the independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the international drug control conventions. It was established in 1968 in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961. It had predecessors under the former drug control treaties as far back as the time of the League of Nations. INCB is independent of Governments as well as of the United Nations. Its 13 members are elected by the Economic and Social Council and serve in their personal capacity, not as government representatives. Three members with medical, pharmacological or pharmaceutical experience are elected from a list of experts nominated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and 10 members are elected from a list of experts nominated by Governments. INCB collaborates with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and also with other international bodies concerned with drug control including the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, WHO, Interpol and the World Customs Organisation.