U.N World Drug Report

First, drug use should be treated as an illness. “People who take drugs need medical help,not criminal retribution,” said Mr. Costa. He appealed for universal access to drug treatment. Since people with serious drug problems provide the bulk of drug demand, treating this problem is one of the best ways of shrinking the market.

Second, he called for “an end to the tragedy of cities out of control.” In the same way that most illicit cultivation takes place in regions out of government control, most drugs are sold in city neighbourhoods where public order has broken down. “Housing, jobs,education, public services, and recreation can make communities less vulnerable to drugs and crime”.