UN opposes Drug Deciminalization
The United Nations has compared the decriminalization of illicit drugs with the legalization of slavery.
Slavery and people trafficking is the second largest international crime after drug trafficking.
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime rejected illicit drug decriminalization as it would lead to more drug use.
The United Nations office believes that governments should tackle both supply and demand for illicit drugs.
Drug policies should develop strategies that reduce a country's vulnerability to drugs and the crime that goes with it.
(Source: Asociacion Andidrogas de la Republica Argentina, 9 October 2008)
DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-
Australia's high vulnerability to illicit drugs because of our high demand for drugs shows the need for strategies that reduce drug demand.
Drug use and its link to criminal activity have been recently highlighted by the Australian Crime Commission as high illicit drug use provides funds to criminal syndicates.
Australia's response to the high illicit drug use should be early intervention detoxification and rehabilitation and not decriminalization.
Australian governments are bound by United Nations conventions to reduce the demand for illicit drugs.
Reducing the number of Australian illicit drug users and the demand for illicit drugs will reduce criminal activity as it will starve criminal syndicates of funds and markets.
THE DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS-
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
39/2008
