Media Center

Press Release

ANTI-DRUG COMMISSION EXAMINES NEW TRENDS

Delegates to the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (known by its Spanish acronym, CICAD) are to hear reports on hemispheric trends in drug trafficking and abuse during its forty-third regular session in Washington, D.C., from April 30 to May 2.

An agency of the Organization of American States (OAS) Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, the Commission and its 34 member states work to reduce the production, trafficking and abuse of illegal drugs in the Americas.

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, in remarks at the inaugural session, underscored drug trafficking—in all is dimensions—as responsible for the increasing crime wave in so many countries of the region. “It is yet another of those crimes that put the hemisphere at risk,” declared Insulza. “but its effect warrant special attention not only for the potential havoc it can wreak on our citizens’ health but also for its accompanying problems: social marginalization, corruption, violence, political instability—all problems that translate into human insecurity.”

He called on participants at the session to view CICAD as a comprehensive tool crime-fighting vehicle for the hemisphere. Programs should be devised to help member states integrate and coordinate the various tools that can be used in this endeavor, Insulza urged, adding: “Drug production and earnings generated from its trade are behind many of our problems.”

Touching on the issue of prevention as a way to counteract the influence that traffickers of synthetic drugs are having on the youth, the Secretary General observed the need to “persist in our efforts” to reduce consumption of drugs like “ecstasy” and amphetamines. He also called for new approaches to drug treatment, so that those who run afoul of the law not only find overcome addiction but forsake their criminal ways. In that regard, he pointed to the value of CICAD’s mandatory treatment programs, and addressed the question of control as well.

As its main task at this meeting, the Commission will review and approve the Hemispheric Report of the Fourth Evaluation Round (2005-2006) of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM). The MEM is an instrument designed to measure the progress of actions taken by the 34 member states to CICAD to combat the global drug problem and other related offenses.

The Hemispheric Report focuses on regional trends in key areas, like institution building, demand reduction, supply reduction, and control measures. The report complements the 34 individual country reports that the Commission approved in late 2007. The Fourth Round country reports contained 453 recommendations to address shortcomings and needs in government policies and programs.

The Hemispheric Report aggregates the MEM data collected in the evaluation process and gives a region-wide vision of progress, compared with past performance.

Among the issues addressed in the Hemispheric Report are the institutional and legal framework, international conventions, information and statistical systems, prevention, treatment, drug production, alternative development, control of chemical substances and pharmaceutical products, illicit trafficking of drugs and firearms, and money laundering

The evaluation is carried out and drafted by the Governmental Experts Group (GEG) comprised of experts designated by but who participate independently. Experts do not participate in the evaluation of their own country.

The Commission will also hear expert opinion on the latest trends in drug consumption in the region, including the increased use of synthetic drugs, and discuss how governments are responding.

Another topic will be public policies regarding the treatment of drug dependency, including a joint initiative of CICAD and the European Commission (EC) to create collaborative partnerships that assist local governments respond appropriately to drug consumption. In early April, this CICAD-EC program brought together 280 representatives from 44 local governments in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to compare experiences and explore innovative approaches.

Reference: E-157/08