Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Drugs image via Shutterstock

Rise in 'designer drugs' poses serious health risk: UN report

The report from the International Narcotics Control Board said Europe alone almost one new substance is appearing every week.

DESIGNER DRUGS ARE multiplying at a worrying rate and increasingly sending users to hospital, a UN-affiliated report has said, calling for international efforts to stem the spread of these substances.

“In recent years, there has been an unprecedented surge in the abuse of new psychoactive substances,” often called “legal highs” or “designer drugs,” the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) said in its annual report.

“In Europe alone almost one new substance is appearing every week. Previously, between 2000 and 2005 there were an average of five notifications of new substances per year,” added INCB head Raymond Yans.

Experts estimate thousands of such drugs currently exist on the market, the report said.

“As abuse of these substances has increased, so too has the number of users who have experienced grave health consequences or even suffered death due to exposure to them,” it went on, pointing to “marked increases in emergency room visits for adverse health reactions” and “significant increases in calls to poison treatment centres.”

Aggravating the problem further was the fact that these drugs were not subject to international control regimes and were readily available on the Internet, requiring states and international institutions to find new ways to identify the drugs and stop their distribution, the UN-affiliated INCB said.

Another increasing problem was the rise in prescription drug abuse, including painkillers, sedatives and others used to treat epilepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and mental illnesses.

This was especially the case in North America, Southeast Asia and South Asia, while prescription-drug abuse via injection was especially prevalent in South Asia, heightening the risks of HIV and hepatitis B and C.

In Latin America, “more than six percent of secondary school students have already abused tranquillizers in some countries,” the INCB found.

It also condemned the easy availability of drugs and poor prescription policies in North America.

The United States, most particularly California, meanwhile came under scrutiny for its medical cannabis scheme, which according to the INCB “has contributed to an increase in cannabis abuse.”

The report called on Washington to better police such programmes to remain in line with international conventions and ensure that the drugs do not become available for recreational use.

The Board makes annual recommendations on narcotics policy to states but also international institutions, including the United Nations.

- © AFP 2013.

Author
View 13 comments
Close
13 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Lane
    Favourite Dermot Lane
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 8:03 AM

    Did you know that the recommended maximum units of alcohol for men and women is not based on any science or research? It’s just a figure plucked out of the air by the committee set up by the UK govt. There is no known “safe limit” for alcohol consumption and some scientists say the only safe limit is zero while others advocate very moderate consumption.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute IgotAheadRush
    Favourite IgotAheadRush
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 8:42 AM

    There’s no harm in using drugs recreationally, in a responsible way,,,,its actually sad how people who have no experience go off and do all they can to stop people from having a good time. If i want to get high, then its none of your buisness, simple

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre Forde
    Favourite Deirdre Forde
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 10:28 AM

    It’s the people who don’t do it in a responsible way are the problem. It’s none of anyone’s business until someone they love gets hurt by drug abuse.

    I can’t say I have solutions but it’s fair to say that there should be open debate about this.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ross McNulty
    Favourite Ross McNulty
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 11:03 AM

    It is interesting to note that the annual UN Report on Drugs claims that of all those who use illegal drugs world wide only 12.6% have any adverse effects or social problems relating to their use. Just over 1:10. All the misery and murder that results from prohibition is to help that 12.6% – even when all empirical research in the area of harm and abuse reduction says that this is the least economically sustainable and least practically effective means of achieving the goal of eradication. The mind boggles at the ineptitude of these people.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry Morgan
    Favourite Terry Morgan
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 8:01 AM

    Sure some people will tell you that drugs are great for society and we should legalise them all but then again some people are idiots.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Fagan
    Favourite Paddy Fagan
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 8:23 AM

    Alcohol is a drug it’s time we stop separating it from other substances. Plus terry in that case it might be the way forward in decriminilising all substances. These drugs are bad, ban them view or policies do not work.

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry Morgan
    Favourite Terry Morgan
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 10:43 AM

    Most people will get up ona monday morning, go to work and not break the law to feed there habbits. The same can not be said of your average brass monkey

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cannabis Freedom
    Favourite Cannabis Freedom
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 11:45 AM

    What did we expect to see happen when we choose to completely ban all drugs, except for alcohol? With such strong potential for profit, there’s criminals literally killing each other to take control over this multi billion euro industry. Throughout the World the so called “War on Drugs” has failed us badly, whilst at the same time allowing organised crime gangs to flourish. We urgently need to take a new approach to this ever worsening problem, as leaving the industry in the hands of the criminal underworld is obviously not working.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Molly Williams
    Favourite Molly Williams
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 10:58 AM
    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cannabis Freedom
    Favourite Cannabis Freedom
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 12:07 PM

    Interesting read Molly, thanks!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Republic Of Zen
    Favourite Republic Of Zen
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 1:35 PM

    My personal experience says that designer drugs are way worse than cocaine, MDMA or weed. Legalize consent and allow the market to regulate drugs.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 10:37 AM

    “While overall drug-related deaths in the United Kingdom fell by 14 per cent (299 fewer) from 2009 to 2010, deaths caused by emerging substances of abuse increased significantly, from 6 cases in 2008 to 44 cases in 2009.”

    Think about that carefully.

    While the use of legal highs has skyrocketed in the UK, overall deaths from drugs significantly decreased.

    If legal highs are relatively safer and consumed instead of illegal alternatives, would authorities be enlightened enough to continue to permit their regulated use; thus reduce overall harm? Doubt it.

    Could it be that the closure of head shops in Ireland resulted in people abusing more dangerous drugs, such as cocaine. Did the closure of head shops save lives or not???

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ross McNulty
    Favourite Ross McNulty
    Report
    Mar 6th 2013, 11:50 AM

    In fairness the policy followed by the head shops themselves was quite reckless. Mislabeling mephadrone as bath salts or plant food didn’t contribute in a positive way to the promotion of responsible use. this again comes down to the danger that government policy puts young people in. It’s all well and good taking the hardline approach that most governments take but it is nearly impossible to change what is essentially an innate human characteristic.

    It’s impossible to say whether closing the headshops has saved lives or not because of the inadequacy of the research conducted into the use of legal highs. What is pretty certain is that is economically unsustainable for governments to try to keep up with the speed of new drugs development. The model developed in New Zealand seems to be the future of drug policy. They have put the onus on the manufacturers to prove that a product is safe before they can market it. It is hoped this will in crease the quality by removing the cowboys from the market while giving people safe alternatives which preclude the need for cowboy manufacturers and dangerous substances. 2 birds one very clever stone.

    8
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds