THE THEME for this year's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is being celebrated today is, "Let's Talk About Drugs."
An estimated 200 million people worldwide use illicit drugs. That translates into 4.7 per cent of the global population aged over 14.
"Those figures are alarming enough in themselves," says United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Anna in a message commemorating the day. "But, the effects of drug abuse go far beyond the individuals concerned and cause incalculable harm to society in health, social and economic terms including the spread of HIV."
"Today's International Day against Drug Abuse is a reminder to all of us to play our part. The United Nations is here to assist you in this fight. The drug programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has a vast amount of useful information available at www.unodc.org to help us talk about drugs," the Secretary General pointed out.
To mark the international day, the Narcotics Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, in collaboration with the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) and other local and foreign agencies, will be hosting an exhibition at the Ministry of National Security, today. There will be displays and live presentation by media houses to highlight the theme for the year.
The Narcotics Division was established in 1974 to investigate and arrest narcotics offenders, eradicate cultivation of narcotics, seize illegal drugs, confiscate tainted property and proceeds and lend professional support to other investigative and intelligenmce units islandwide.
