International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

This photo is used for illustrative purposes only. It does not imply the attitudes, behaviour or actions of the model in this photo. ©iStockphoto.com/Robert Back

What do people do?

In 2008 the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched a campaign to inspire people and mobilize support for drug control. The campaign’s slogan is “Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs”. The UNODC also teamed up with a group of international teenagers to talk with educational experts about the dangers of drugs. These questions and answers have been recorded as a series of radio interviews.

A national campaign was launched in Vietnam on June 17, 2008, to coincide with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The campaign aimed to encourage people to participate in drug abuse prevention, help drug users to kick the habit, and reduce the number of relapsed addicts. In India the Coalition Against Drug and Alcohol organized a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs as part of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The week-long campaign, which concludes on June 26, features a mass rally, a public meeting to pledge to fight against drugs and alcohol, street corner meetings, a one-day blood donation camp and poster campaigns.

Community groups and government agencies in Borneo have planned a range of anti-drug activities such as a hill climb, treasure hunt, slogan invention, the launch of a song, and a cleaning campaign in conjunction with the UN worldwide event. The Bangkok Post, one of Thailand’s major newspapers, began publishing a series of articles related to drug problems in Thailand to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Public life

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is not a public holiday and public life is not affected.

Background

According to the UNODC, nearly 200 million people are using illicit drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide. In December 1987 the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The UN was determined to help create an international society free of drug abuse. This resolution recommended further action with regard to the report and conclusions of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Following the resolution, the years 1991 to 2000 were heralded as the “United Nations Decade Against Drug Abuse”. In 1998 the UN General Assembly adopted a political declaration to address the global drug problem. The declaration expresses UN members’ commitment to fighting the problem.

Symbols

The United Nations’ logo is often associated with marketing and promotional material for this event. It features a projection of a world map (less Antarctica) centered on the North Pole, enclosed by olive branches. The olive branches are a symbol for peace, and the world map represents all the people of the world. It has been featured in colors such as white against a blue background or gold against a light purple background.

The UNODC’s campaign co-brands this anti-drug campaign with another logo. The logo features a triangular warning sign outlined in black with a bright yellow background within the triangle. A human figure is inside the triangle. On the right side of the triangle are the words “Do drugs control your life?” typed in bold black ink. The words “Your life. Your community. No place for drugs.” are written in black ink and highlighted by a bright, yellow background under the triangle.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Observances

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