The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated by United Nations every year on June 26. It is marked to raise awareness against drug abuse and illegal drug trade. Various organisations and communities celebrate it all over the world by launching campaigns to mobilise drug control. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime get actively involved with other organisations to get more involvement. The day is also called World Drug Day and has a dedicated theme to it. The theme for 2018 is "Listen First - Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe." The theme highlights the need to provide support for prevention of drug use that is based on science. It will be used effectively in the well-being of children and youth, their families and their communities.
Date and Significance of the Day
In December 1987 the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It is observed annually since 1989. On June 26, 1989, it was a centenary of China’s early efforts to combat the trade in opium. It took place just before the First Opium War in China. China's efforts to combat opium have been regarded as the start of the international war on drugs. According to the UNODC, nearly 200 million people are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide.
How do People Celebrate/Observe the Day?
A lot of promotional events and campaigns are held to get mass involvements. The main aim is to highlight the dangers involved in drug abuse and the illegal trade. Educational material is provided to teachers and public officers so that it is easy to spread the message about the extreme cultural and economic harm the trade in drugs.
In India, the Delhi government has directed schools in the national capital to observe the day. As per the Directorate of Education (DoE) there could be awareness programmes in schools, public meetings among target groups vulnerable to drug abuse and HIV (street children, jail inmates, truck drivers, slum dwellers), seminars on drug abuse and trafficking, workshops to evolve new coordinated strategies for supply reduction.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 09:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).