NCJ Number
64210
Date Published
1979
Length
60 pages
Annotation
THE 1978 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD PRESENTS TRENDS AND STATISTICAL DATA ON THE LEGITIMATE AND ILLICIT SUPPLY AND MOVEMENT OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES.
Abstract
BEGINNING WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL SYSTEM, THE REPORT EXAMINES THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR OPIATES USED FOR SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL PURPOSES IN 1977 AND 1978. ALTHOUGH A FORECAST FOR 1979-1982 PREDICTS THAT MORPHINE MANUFACTURE WILL GREATLY EXCEED REQUIREMENTS, ANALYSIS INDICATES NO REDUCTION IN ILLICIT PRODUCTION OF OPIUM AND OPIATES. SEIZURES OF CANNABIS AND RELATED PRODUCTS HAVE INCREASED, BUT THE SOFTENING ATTITUDES TOWARD ITS USE IN SOME COUNTRIES ARE A MATTER FOR CONCERN AND RESEARCH ON LONG TERM CANNABIS EFFECTS SHOULD BE INTENSIFIED. OVERPRODUCTION OF COCA LEAF CONTINUES AND THE TREND TOWARD SMOKING A MIXTURE OF COCA LEAF WITH TOBACCO OR CANNABIS COULD CREATE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN AND ABUSE OF PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES HAS GROWN APPRECIABLY, AND GOVERNMENTS NEED STRICTER CONTROLS. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION SHOULD FOCUS ON COMBATTING DRUG TRAFFICKING ON THE HIGH SEAS. SINCE THE INTERNATIONAL OPIUM CONVENTION IN 1925, MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN CONTROLLING INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFIC. THIS, HOWEVER, HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN ILLICIT PRODUCTION WHICH, ALONG WITH THE EXPANSION IN PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG USE, CONSTITUTE THE PRINCIPAL PROBLEMS TODAY. THE SITUATIONS IN GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS AND INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SERIOUS DRUG RELATED PROBLEMS ARE ANALYZED SEPARATELY. THE REPORT LISTS ALL INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL AGREEMENTS, MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD, AND MEETINGS HELD IN 1978. TABLES AND GRAPHS ON LEGITIMATE WORLD REQUIREMENTS IN OPIATES ARE APPENDED. (MJM)