The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is reporting that illicit drug seems to have been contained to less than 5% of the adult population and that globally drug controls appear to be working.
However, in its World Drug Report for 2008, it says that drug trafficking is still undermining national security (for example in parts of Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and West Africa); drug money is still being used as a lubricant for corruption, and a source of terrorist financing and that corrupt officials and terrorists make drug production and trafficking easier.
However, it said that when compared to tobacco or alcohol, addictive psychoactive drugs that are used by at least one quarter of the world’s adult population, and cause millions of deaths every year, the lowering of consumption of illicit drugs, is an impressive achievement.
While Guyana does not feature prominently in the reporting on this region, it is listed as having seen a steady increase in the usage of marijuana, cocaine and heroin, while its usage of ecstasy and amphetamines have remained stable and decreased respectively.
The report said that South America, including the Caribbean and Central America accounted for 12% of global cannabis herb seizures. The largest level of seizures in this region was reported by Brazil (167 mt), Bolivia (125 mt), Colombia (110 mt), Argentina (67 mt), Paraguay (59 mt) and Jamaica (37 mt). Most countries in South America, notably Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile cite Paraguay as the main source country for the cannabis resin found on their market. Seizures made by countries in South America showed a noticeable upward trend over the 2004-06 period (+24%). In contrast, seizures in the Caribbean and in Central America remained largely unchanged over the 2004-06 period.
The UNODC also reports an increase in the manufacturing and supply of illicit drugs, which threatens the containment of drug use. It urged that countries look at improving public health – reducing drug dependence; crime prevention as it relates to drug trafficking and protecting public safety by making human rights a part of drug control.
