The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was established by the UN General Assembly at its 42nd session in 1987 and is observed annually on 26 June as a sign of determination to strengthen efforts and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free from drug abuse.

Today, drug addiction has hit every country in the world. According to the most approximate estimates of experts, from 3 to 4 percent of the world's population use drugs. And the situation with drug distribution in the world continues to deteriorate. Schemes of their production and sale, transport and financial networks of drug trafficking are improving, and the speed and scale are constantly growing. Structure of narcotic drugs consumption is also changing. New synthetic drugs are emerging and their formulas are constantly being updated. National legislations often simply do not have time to respond to these changes.

Unfortunately, drug addiction is now a very lucrative business that allows one to get rich from misfortunes of others. Places where drug trade is concentrated are rightfully considered to be countries of the Near and Middle East and Asia. The world's largest supplier of heroin is Afghanistan. Latin America also has a significant share in distribution of narcotic drugs.

The problem of drug addiction is a global threat to health of world population. After all, it is not just a tragedy of an individual or a family. It is also one of the causes of demographic crisis, sick children born, decline in general health of nations, as well as increasing crime rates around the world.

Initially, international drug control was limited to states as subjects of international law. Subsequently, modern drug control regime was established during international conferences or within international multilateral organizations. Countries and international organizations jointly develop an international legal regime to control drug trafficking, combating smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, prevention and treatment of drug addicts.

Also, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC/Centre), as a specialized international organization, carries out its functions to the extent that the Centre has been endowed by its Member States in its statutes.

More than 10 years have passed since inception of CARICC as an interstate body to coordinate efforts of competent authorities of participating states in combating transnational drug crime. Much has been accomplished in this period within its mandate, but more needs to be done.

CARICC's format for international work is very broad. The Centre is permanent organizer, coordinator and participant of such operations as “Reflex”, “Substitution”, “Channel” and “Web”. Coordination centers are based at CARICC.

Use of its own and international information resources enables the Centre to be an effective tool for network cooperation in the international fight against drugs. In order to collect, process and analyze information in drug trafficking, CARICC has developed its Centralized Data Bank, which currently has accumulated more than 100,000 objects.

The Centre carries out strategic and operational analysis of drug situation in the region, conducts a number of studies and prepares and disseminates regular analytical products. Total number of published bulletins, surveys and newsletters has already exceeded 1,000 issues. The number of recipients of those bulletins is also increasing.

Also, CARICC operates a search system for persons wanted for drug offences, which is supplemented by information from competent authorities of the Centre's partners and is always up to date.

The Centre's website has also recently been updated. Closed part of the website has appeared, where CARICC information products of limited access are placed.

Various events are held at the Center's premises, bilateral and multilateral meetings are organized to exchange information and coordinate joint operational and investigative actions between CARICC Member States and Centre partners.

Moreover, working meetings of liaison officers of CARICC Member States, Observer States and partners of the Centre, which have become annual, contribute to intensification of interaction.

These events discuss a wide range of topics related to exchange of information and strengthening international cooperation in combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and related crime.

The last such meeting took place in late 2019. It was attended by representatives of competent authorities and experts from nearly 30 countries and international organizations. In addition to CARICC Member States, such countries as Afghanistan, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iran, Mongolia, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States were represented along with reputable international organizations such as UNODC, INTERPOL, OSCE, CSTO, SCO RATS, BKBOP, GCC-CIC, as well as the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All participants highlighted benefits and even need for such events.

International community seeks to resolve emerging problems and conflicts by improving legal regulation, updating legislative framework and enhancing powers and size of international organizations, which leads to expansion of cooperation between subjects of international relations and, consequently, to active collaboration between them on building an order that would meet interests of all mankind in realization of the idea of liberation of the world from illicit drug trade.

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking promotes healthy lifestyles and reminds humanity of the terrible scourge of drug addiction. On this day, numerous actions are carried out around the world to prevent drug addiction, especially among young people and conferences and meetings are organized to discuss ways to combat drug trafficking.

Everyone, anywhere in the world, should be concerned about this matter. Only through joint efforts can we count on positive results in solving the global problem of our time - drug addiction.

We urge ALL to say no to drugs, tobacco and alcohol, to say no to people who offer drugs and alcohol, to avoid situations involving the use of psychoactive substances and to choose life, sport, healthy lifestyle!