World celebrates International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking

CAIRO – 26 June 2022: On June 26 of every year, the world celebrates the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which comes to shed light on ways to enhance international action and cooperation to establish an international community free of drug use, and share research findings, evidence-based data and solutions, to continue to benefit from the shared spirit of solidarity.

The United Nations General Assembly first decided to designate June 26 as the international day to combat drug use and illicit trafficking to promote action and cooperation to achieve the goal of establishing an international community free of drug use in 1987.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime addresses existing and emerging drug challenges that affect many countries through health and humanitarian crises.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime also continues to advocate for the protection of the right to health of the most vulnerable groups, including children and youth, people who use drugs, people with substance use disorders as well as people who need to have access to controlled medications.

This global celebration, supported every year by individuals, communities and various organizations around the world, aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent in society.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime calls on governments, international organizations, civil society and all stakeholders to take urgent action to protect people, by strengthening drug abuse prevention and treatment, and by addressing the supply of illicit drugs.