Context:

The United Nations celebrates World Drug Day on June 26 annually.

More on the news

• The United Nations established an annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, popularly known as World Drug Day, on June 26 to raise awareness about the global fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
• The theme for World Drug Day 2024 is “The evidence is clear: Invest in the prevention”
• It aims to educate about the harmful impact of drug abuse and encourages individuals to prevent drug addiction and combat the illicit drug trade.

This year’s World Drug Day is a call to:

• Raise awareness 
• Advocate for investment 
• Empower communities 
• Facilitate dialogue and collaboration 
• Promote evidence-based policymaking 
• Engage communities 
• Empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and resources to become agents of change
• Promote international cooperation in developing and implementing evidence-based strategies for combating drug trafficking
• As per the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), around 269 million people worldwide used drugs in 2018, and the numbers have continued to rise.

• Every year, UNODC issues the World Drug Report, which contains key statistics and factual data obtained through official sources and research.

• As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Punjab are the top three states with the highest number of FIRs registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) in three years between 2019 and 2021.

History and Significance

• • The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 42/112, adopted on December 7, 1987. 
• • In the resolution, the General Assembly expressed its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.