UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON NARCOTIC DRUGS Drug rehabilitation care plan in developing countries Implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an integrated advanced strategy to counter the world drug problem Promoting alternative development to drug crop cultivation 1
Distinguished Delegates, Welcome to this magnificent experience of the CWMUN of New York, my name is Sara Altoubat and I will be your Director in this simulation for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. Having gained experience at various MUNs I personally think that there is a dire need of promoting peace and security at international levels. Model United Nations is one of the finest method to learn about the practice of states and understanding their policies. You will learn a lot about the United Nations and also about one of the biggest problem that affects our planet, the illicit drug trafficking, you will have the chance to find the best solution to this problem that probably will never disappear from this world. But what is important is that we don t have to stop our fight against drugs. This is the background guide of our Commission and serves as an introduction to the topics of the agenda and it is also an introduction on the CND. You are expected to conduct independent research to determine your own State s policy. Delegates, now it is your turn to find the best resolution for our Commission in order to prevent and also to limit the illicit drug trafficking and all its tragic consequences. I will expect from you to work as a team but bear in mind that the main goal of this simulation is to represent your country with a diplomatic behavior and courtesy in the best possible manner. I really hope that you will enjoy this beautiful experience. Also feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Sara Altoubat (sara.altoubat23@gmail.com) Director Commission on Narcotic Drugs 2
History of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs The Commission on Narcotic Drugs is one of the functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is the central drug policy-making body within the UN system. It was established by the ECOSOC in 1946 with resolution 9(I). The Commission has important functions under the drug control treaties in force today, it can amend the Schedules of controlled substances under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In 1991, the General Assembly extended the mandate of the CND to enable it to function as the governing body of the UNODC. ECOSOC resolution 999/30 asked the CND to structure its agenda in two different parts: a normative one for discharging treaty-based and normative functions; and another operative one for exercising the role as the governing body of UNODC. The CND has important normative functions under the international drug control, it is authorized to consider all matters pertaining to the aims of the Conventions and see to their implementation. 3
As a treaty organ under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961) and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), the Commission decides, on the basis of recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), to place narcotic drugs and psychotropical substances under international control. Pursuant to the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) the Commission decides, upon the recommendation of the International Narcotics Board Control (INCB), to place precursor chemicals frequently used for the manufacture of illicit drugs under international control. The Commission may also decide to remove or modify international control measures over drugs, psychotropic substances or precursor. The CND functions as a governing body, that is why it can approve the budget of the Fund of the UN International Drug Control Programme, which is administered by UNODC and finances measures to combat the world drug problem. It is composed by 53 members after the resolution 1991/49 of the Economic and Social Council, that has enlarged the membership of the Commission from 40 to 53, with the following distribution of seats among regional groups: 11 for African states, 10 for Latin America, 11 for Asian states, 6 for Eastern European states, 14 between Western European and other States. There is also one seat to rotate between Asian and the Latin american and Caribbean states. According to Council resolution 845(XXXII) and 1147(XLI), members are elected between the UN members of the specialized agencies and the parties of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, with a special regard for those countries which are opium or coca leaves producers, and for others that illicit drug trafficking represents an important problem. The main goal of the CND it is reducing illicit narcotic drug trafficking and the reducing the consume of drugs which are an extremely serious problem, especially for the developing countries. 4
Drug rehabilitation care plan in developing countries Developing countries are the most problematic states in the field of drug trafficking. That is due to the easiness that they have in finding toxic and psychotropical drugs, and it is also very difficult to stop illegal production of drugs, because of the lack of control. However even though it seems not possible to stop the illicit trafficking the CND tries to limit its consequences. The most important thing to do is to be comprehensive with drug addicted people, and offer them great rehabilitation care plan without having an extremist position or acting in violent way like what happened in some rehabilitation centers in China. What is important to face this problem for the different states is to develop a strategic framework for the treatment, but how should a strategic framework for treatment be conceptualized, and what are the key issues that need to be addressed when developing and implementing treatment policy plan? 5
Today, almost all countries need to consider how best to respond to the abuse of one or more psychoactive substances that are causing problems for individuals, families and communities. The response of a country to drug abuse is best organized and guided by a public policy and a strategic framework. The value of the strategic framework lies in the way in which it communicates, in a clear and concise document, the nature of the problem, the actions that the country is taking to tackle it and what sort of results are expected. The development of contemporary treatment responses to drug abuse at the local, regional or national level is best guided by a public policy and a planning process to develop the strategic framework. Such a framework for treatment should fit within the context of the drug master plan of the country concerned or the national drug policy frameworks, and should become an important element of the demand reduction strategies embedded within those documents. Treatment can be defined in general terms as the provision of one or more structured interventions designed to manage health and other problems as a consequence of drug abuse and to improve or maximize personal and social functioning. According to WHO, treatment refers to the process that begins when psychoactive substances abusers come into contact with a health provider or any other community service, and may continue through a succession of specific interventions until the highest attainable level of health and well-being is reached. The nature of the treatment interventions, including medical, psychosocial, traditional healing and other rehabilitative services, can take a different form across different countries. Those interventions are not static and are subject to various political, cultural, religious and economic factors that influence how they are organized and delivered and how they evolve over time. Most countries have a national drug master plan or a broader national policy framework designed to organize and guide how the country is tackling the problem. Because drug abuse problems can affect many sections of the population and lead to health, legal and social problems. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 include provisions requesting the States Members of the United Nations to give special attention to, and take all practicable measures for, the early identification, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation and social reintegration of individuals with drug abuse problems.. Many countries have enacted general legislation on individual rights to health and social care with no special reference to drug abuse. Under those general provisions, drug abusers have the 6
same rights to receive treatment as persons with other chronic health disorders. the individual dignity of the person; the provision of non-discriminatory services; access to treatment services that are appropriate to individual needs; and advocacy and counsel arrangements that relate to criminal justice proceedings. Another important thing is to estimate the size of the population in need so is important to understand the extent of treatment need within a community and the characteristics of those who are likely to be a priority for service provision. To understand how a treatment works we need to know what are the elements of a comprehensive treatment system. It is recognized that many countries will use alternative terms to describe their treatment modalities. Whatever terms or names are used to describe treatments, it is important that they are used consistently across the country. Furthermore, it will be beneficial if those involved in the treatment system share a common understanding about the overall purpose and operation of each treatment modality. Open access services are important elements of an integrated treatment response. Those services do not provide formal treatment as such, but act as important points of first contact for people who have drug-related problems and for those concerned about the drug use of another. Open access services are sometimes called street agencies reflecting their community location. hey are based on the original principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and are run by and for people who are recovering from drug dependence and who attend a group-based discussion and support session on a routine basis. There are the so called structured treatments which are Succinct categorizations of treatments for substance abuse are surprisingly difficult to develop. In the present section, a summary of the main types of structured treatment are offered. Structured treatment characterizes services that are based on a formal assessment, the development, monitoring and review of individual plans for client care and a programme of medical treatment and/or counseling services. Some therapeutic programmes, in particular those delivered in a residential setting, are highly structured and involve an intensive schedule of individual and group-based educational, therapeutic and training sessions to promote rehabilitation. A schematic description of a care process is shown in this picture below. 7
The rehabilitation care plan is divided into different steps: (a) Detoxification: stabilization phase of treatment Medical detoxification is the initial and acute stage of drug treatment. Such programmes provide medically supervised detoxification to people with a drug dependence. People who are heavy, consistent abusers of certain drugs (opioids and sedative and hypnotic drugs) and are likely to experience withdrawal complications require medically supervised withdrawal (detoxification). A withdrawal syndrome that can develop after stopping the use of a drug will vary according to the type of drug the person was using. Common general features can include craving for the substance, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia and impaired attention. 8
The main goal of detoxification programmes is to achieve withdrawal in as safe and as comfortable a manner as possible. On its own, detoxification is not in itself a rehabilitative treatment for drug dependence, and it is seldom effective in helping clients achieve lasting abstinence from drug use. Detoxification is better seen as a first phase of treatment programmes that are aimed at abstinence and recovery. The second step of the rehabilitation plan is (b) Rehabilitation: relapse prevention phase of treatment. The rehabilitation or relapse prevention phase of treatment is oriented to the needs of persons who have either completed a formal detoxification or who have dependence but no formal withdrawal symptoms requiring access to the previous phase of treatment. Relapse prevention or rehabilitation programmes are designed to change the behavior of clients to enable them to regain control of their urge to use substances. Psychosocial and pharmacological interventions are involved in that phase of treatment. (c) Aftercare arrangements Some structured treatment programmes distinguish a period of less intensive treatment after a client has completed the main programme, called aftercare. It may be limited to a month or substantially longer after treatment has finished, but is based on the intention to provide ongoing support to clients at the level required to maintain the earlier benefits and goals. (d) Comprehensive treatment models In recent years, there have been specific efforts to develop comprehensive treatment services. Those ser- vices represent the integration of different treatment approaches, such as communitybased counselling and residential rehabilitative services designed to help people achieve lasting abstinence. (e) Special setting for treatment: the criminal justice system Large numbers of drug users have contact with the legal authorities and the criminal justice system. In many countries, there is interest in developing treatment interventions in criminal justice settings. 9
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Implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an integrated advanced strategy to counter the world drug problem. The Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation of 1998 and 2009 are the milestones adopted by the member states of the CND. Both declarations aim at enhancing international cooperation in countering the world drug problem, which is a common and shared responsibility. Specific goals and targets to reduce the supply and the demand for illicit drugs were also agreed by Member States. The Political Declaration of 1998, adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session on the world drug problem, requested Member States to report biennially to the Commission on their efforts to meet relevant goals and targets. The Commission was requested to analyze these reports in order to enhance the cooperative effort to combat the world drug problem. 11
At the high-level segment of the fifty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, held on 11 and 12 March 2009, Member States evaluated the progress made since 1998 towards meeting the goals and targets established at the twentieth special session of the General Assembly. They identified future priorities and areas requiring further action and established goals and targets for drug control beyond 2009. Member States adopted in 2009 the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem. In 2014, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs at its fifty-seventh session conducted a high level review of the implementation by Member States of the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action and adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement. Also in 2016 the CND held a new conference in order to approve a new implementation of the Plan of Action. Promoting alternative development to drug crop cultivation Although growing illicit crops often helps small rural farmers cope with food shortages and the unpredictability of agricultural markets, economic dependence on illicit crops is not sustainable in the long term. Forming an enclave in the national economy and excluded from mainstream development, the illicit cultivation of coca bush and opium poppy leaves farmers in the hands of unscrupulous middlemen. In some countries, farmers have become mere employees of large commercial farms owned by drug traffickers. Moreover, farmers are continuously confronted with the threat of forced eradication of their illicit crops by the Government, which exacerbates their precarious socio-economic condition. 12
Although levels of opium poppy and coca bush cultivation have been contained in the last decade, much remains to be done. While the global area under poppy cultivation rose by 15% in 2012, driven largely by increases in Afghanistan and Myanmar, global opium production fell by almost 30%, to less than 5,000 tons in 2012, mainly as a result of poor yields in Afghanistan ( World Drug Report 2013). In the Andean region where coca bush is cultivated, the global area under coca cultivation amounted to 155,600 hectares in 2011, almost unchanged from a year earlier. The application of alternative development projects in these key regions will contribute to maintaining successful results in the fight against illicit crop cultivation. Since 2003, Afghanistan has been the main opium poppy grower in the world and accounted for the bulk of cultivation, around 74% of global illicit opium production in 2012. With a global total of over 236,000 hectares under cultivation in Afghanistan, illicit cultivation of opium poppy reached peaks level in 2012, surpassing the 10-year high recorded in 2007. This was mainly the result of increases in Afghanistan and Myanmar (the two main producers). A preliminary assessment of opium poppy cultivation trends in 2013 revealed that such cultivation is likely to increase in the main opium growing regions, which will be the third consecutive increase since 2010. Mexico remains the largest grower of opium poppy in the Americas. Global illicit cultivation of coca bush in 2011 remained at around the same level as in 2010. Most of the world's coca bush is cultivated in the Andean countries of the Plurinational of State of Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. After several years of increases since 2005, the Plurinational State of Bolivia saw a decrease in coca bush cultivation of 12% in 2011. Colombia and Peru, on the other hand, experienced small increases in the area under coca bush cultivation. Regional Blocs Illicit drug trafficking is one of the biggest problem that affects all the countries but there are some states that are more affected by this issue because of their massive production. For example the Asian bloc is one of the more prevalent areas of drug trafficking, given the high consumption on behalf of the population and the consequent more lucrative drug market. Also Latin American countries have played an important role in drug trafficking, taking into account the region s poverty, the financial capabilities of the drug production and trafficking of drugs. 13
Even if the African bloc is not a producer of illicit drugs, drug trafficking and consumption have become a serious problem. Even though African governments have always been very cooperative in extending the drug limitation throughout nations, the law enforcement is still weak. The Middle East bloc is greatly affected by the rebel groups controlling the drug trade, the governments are unable to combat the rebel groups successfully since these groups are often sponsored by powerful states. The drug related problems in this region are not only a political matter but also a religious one, which has the greatest influence throughout these nations. The biggest consumer seems to be the Western bloc, being the most lucrative market. Countries in this region have tried to strengthen borders in order to decrease drug trafficking, thanks to their stable financial situation that allows them to provide funds to decrease the presence of rebel drug groups. 14
Bibliography History of CND http://www.incb.org/incb/en/narcotic-drugs/1961_convention.html http://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/drug_control/en/ https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/cnd/ I. Drug rehabilitation care plan in developing countries https://www.unodc.org/docs/treatment/guide_e.pdf II. Implementation of Plan of Action https://www.unodc.org/documents/ungass2016/v0984963-english.pdf III. Promotive alternative development to drug crop cultivation https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/alternative-development/illicit-crop-cultivation.html 15