Illicit Drug Economy: A Danger to Humanity

Today June 26th is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking; our guest blogger is our Security and Justice Officer, Sara del Cid.

The world is increasingly globalised, and as with many other social phenomena, globalisation has been accelerating the diffusion of the contemporary drug problem. While the increase in global trade has brought undoubted benefits, it has also brought new threats, including the trafficking of new psychoactive substances, precursor chemicals and cutting agents. It means that drugs are a global problem with various dimensions, constituting a serious threat to public health, the safety and well-being of humanity, national security and sovereignty of States, and that it undermines socio-economic and political stability and sustainable development.

In this context, drugs matter to the whole of society as all countries feel the impact in some way. From the crime in local neighbourhoods, through families forced apart by dependency to the corrupting effect of international organised crime, drugs have a profound and negative effect on communities, families and individuals.

Like other sectors of activity in which goods or services are traded for a profit, the law of supply and demand governs the illicit drug economy essentially, although addiction and interdiction greatly influence the interaction of supply of, and demand for, illicit drugs. Basically drug trafficking organisations tend to change in response of the market; as a consequence, the illicit drug economy continues to evolve, complicating tackling the problem.

Nevertheless the consumption of drugs is not something new. It has happened throughout history in different forms; but today, according to the World Drug Report 2012, the illicit drug use is largely a youth phenomenon. Prevalence rates gradually increase through the teens and among persons aged 18-25. The key impact of illicit drug use on society is the negative health consequences experienced by members of society. The UK has experience in tackling consumption issues and we hope we can work with Guatemala and Honduras on these issues this year. Considering that it’s a fact that illicit drugs pose a danger to humanity, that’s why drugs are, and should remain, controlled.