NARCOTICS
NARCOTICS
Narcotics laws in international law aim to control and regulate the production,
distribution, and use of drugs to protect public health and security.
The focus is on preventing illicit trafficking while allowing the controlled use of
narcotics for legitimate medical and scientific purposes.
o Limits production to medical and scientific use, and creates a framework for
international cooperation.
o Established the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) to monitor
compliance and coordinate with national governments.
United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances (1988): Strengthened the global fight against illicit drug trafficking,
including measures to combat money laundering, asset seizure, and extradition for
drug-related crimes.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): Provides technical assistance to
countries in drug control, addresses drug demand and supply reduction, and assists
in policy formulation.
World Health Organization (WHO): Assesses the medical and health risks of
substances to determine whether they should be controlled and under which
classification.
New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): Rapid emergence of synthetic drugs and new
psychoactive substances poses challenges, as these substances are not always
covered under existing conventions.
Opium Trade Regulation: Early narcotics control efforts began with attempts to
regulate the opium trade in the early 20th century, forming the basis for modern
conventions.
Synthetic Drug Crisis: The rise in synthetic drug abuse has led to calls for stricter
controls and rapid response mechanisms in international law.