UPSC Articles
Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Report by the UNODC released
Part of: GS-Prelims and Mains GS-III- Economy, Health
In News:
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently released the report on “Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia”.
Key takeaways:
- Movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an initial statistical reduction in drug seizures (confiscation).
- However, there will be hardly any change in terms of supply in the East and Southeast Asia region.
- A large proportion of methamphetamine was manufactured, trafficked and consumed without the need for globalised supply chains.
- An already vulnerable population of drug users may be exposed to additional risks as funding is re-prioritised, access to programmes and services becomes difficult, activities of treatment providers are hampered, and communities concentrate on coping with the effects of the pandemic.
- Additional efforts would be required at all levels to carefully analyse methods and trends to understand changes to drug markets.
Important value additions:
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- Established in 1997 it is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
- Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
- Functions: To assist the UN in addressing:
- interrelated issues of illicit trafficking in and abuse of drugs
- crime prevention and criminal justice
- international terrorism
- political corruption.
- These goals are pursued through three primary functions: research, guidance and support to governments through various conventions, treaties and protocols.
