175. Report of the United States Delegation to the 26th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs1 2
INTRODUCTION
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), a functional sub-commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is the only agency in the UN system concerned exclusively with drug abuse control. It meets regularly every odd-numbered year. Delegations attending the session represented the 30 members of the CND, 25 observer countries, 16 international governmental organizations and 6 nongovernmental organizations. The United States delegation consisted of 11 members from the Departments of State, Treasury, Justice, HEW and Agriculture as well as OMB and the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention.
[Page 2]WORK OF THE CONFERENCE
The Commission considered the broad scope of problem areas in international drug control indicated by its enclosed agenda. It achieved a consensus on some topics and recommended several resolutions for adoption by ECOSOC.
The Commission agreed with the U.S. statement that production in 1974 of narcotics raw materials was insufficient to meet legitimate demand, and with the U.S. exhortation that the solution to this temporary shortage must be achieved in a manner which does not increase the risk of diversion for illicit purposes. The U.S. call for acceleration of research conducted and coordinated by the UN Laboratory to maximize yields from the straw process and from selection of high yielding varieties won general reaffirmation from other delegations as did its recommendation that the UN Laboratory give high priority to research on papaver bracteatum. Other delegations also supported the USG statement of the need for prompt development of methods for improving control techniques. A consensus developed that the International Narcotics Control Board and the UN Laboratory should be asked to report on this subject again at the Commission’s next session, and that in the meantime, the Board can keep the supply and demand situation under continuing review and the UN Laboratory can continue [Page 3] to accelerate research on the most controllable narcotic raw materials.
During discussion of the Illicit Traffic item, several representatives recalled that the effective prohibition of poppy cultivation in Turkey after the 1972 harvest had substantially reduced supplies of opium and morphine base in the Middle East and Europe, much of which had been used for the illicit production of heroin. They expressed anxiety lest the Government’s decision to permit a resumption of cultivation should lead to a renewal of this flow, while recognizing that the Turkish Government’s decree to prohibit the lancing of capsules would lessen the problem of control. Several representatives felt assured that the Government of Turkey was well aware of its responsibilities in this matter to the international community and expressed confidence in its determination to prevent any opium production. They stressed that competent, adequately equipped and devoted staff and special vigilance during the period when lancing was possible would, however, be needed. They also stressed the necessity of manning an effective control organization and of countering the efforts of illicit traffickers.
The Commission adopted a revision of the Form of Annual Reports by which parties to the international narcotics conventions fulfill their obligation of apprising the Division of Narcotic Drugs of narcotic developments within their boundaries. This form had been the subject of extensive discussions at previous sessions and its final adoption should improve the quality of international drug reporting.
The Commission also recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of six resolutions on subjects involving international drug control, all of which were supported and some co-sponsored by the U.S. Delegation. A resolution entitled “Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances” would have the ECOSOC invite States to take into consideration the pertinent recommendations and resolutions adopted by UN organs and other competent international bodies and to cooperate closely in a coordinated campaign providing for the exchange of information related to detecting and suppressing illicit traffic in these substances.
The Commission also turned its attention to “Measures to Reduce Illicit Demand for Drugs,” recommending to ECOSOC a resolution with that title, which would have ECOSOC recommend, [Page 4] inter alia, that governments take all appropriate measures to prevent drug abuse as well as to provide treatment facilities for addicts, that governments incorporate drug abuse prevention and treatment into their integrated public health programs and pursue research in these fields, and that the World Health Organization with the aid of UNFDAC and other sources, assist governments to apply treatment and rehabilitation measures. The Commission further proposed a resolution on the cannabis problem which would, inter alia, have ECOSOC recommend to all countries and competent international organs and organizations that they ‘not lose momentum in taking appropriate measures against cannabis abuse, supply of cannabis and cannabis resin and, in particular, illegal trade and traffic in cannabis and drugs derived from cannabis, in order not to endanger the success of global and regional efforts in this field. It also noted the desirability of taking all practicable measures for the treatment, rehabilitation and education of abusers of cannabis and urged that scientific research should be continued and accelerated.
Other resolutions would have the ECOSOC, inter alia,
- (a)
- request the Secretary General to continue his efforts for the best possible coordination in the drug control field and to invite the assistance of governments and international organizations concerned in these efforts;
- (b)
- request the Secretary General, in preparing his budget, to give adequate priority to drug control activities;
- (c)
- decide that the Commission should hold a special session of two weeks in 1976 at a time when it will not overlap with other meetings, in order to minimize its costs.
FUTURE MEETINGS
Subject to adoption of its recommended resolution by ECOSOC, the Commission will hold a special session in 1976 in Geneva some time after February.
COMMENTS
The 26th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs promoted the campaign against drug abuse by providing an expert [Page 5] forum for the analysis of recent developments, by encouraging international consensus on approaches to pending problems and by recommending to the Economic and Social Council resolutions designed to strengthen the international drug control system. Since all of these activities were consonant with U.S. policies and goals, the U.S. Delegation found this session of the Commission a useful and productive activity.
- Source: Department of State, IO/T/HNP Files, Lot 81D327, NAR 76 ORG UN, Organizations—United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 1976 meeting. No classification marking. Prepared by Cavanaugh. Three appendices, not published, listed the members of the U.S. delegation, the organization and agenda of the meeting, and the number of participants representing other governments and non-governmental organizations.↩
- The report summarized the work of the conference, focusing on the licit opium shortage, illicit trafficking, Turkish opium cultivation, revision of annual reports, exchange of information, and demand reduction.↩