Alternative Progress Report on UNGASS Mid-term Review

Alternative Progress Report on UNGASS Mid-term Review
TNI Press Release, 8 April 2003

Measuring Progress: Global Supply of Illicit Drugs Progress Report by TNI as a contribution to the Mid-term (2003) Review of UNGASS, April 2003.

The Executive Director of the UNODC, Mr Antonio Maria Costa, released a progress report, Encouraging progress towards still distant goals [PDF document], as a Contribution to the Mid-term (2003) Review of UNGASS. The report examines whether the international community is on track to reduce illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.

TNI reviewed the UN report and concluded that "While one might agree that the goals are still distant, the conclusion that there is encouraging progress cannot be substantiated on the basis of available evidence. Levels of cultivation of coca and opium poppy as well as the supply of cocaine and heroin have shown fluctuations but the trend seems to be relatively stable. No indications point at any sustainable decline. The situation regarding the supply of cannabis and synthetic drugs has even deteriorated. Rather than plough on towards what is likely to be failure and humiliation in 2008, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, during the course of this Mid-term Review, might be better advised to reconsider zero-option deadline thinking and start to acknowledge that international drug policy should shift its focus to reducing the harm of drugs for users and society as a whole."

Measuring Progress: Global Supply of Illicit Drugs provides an overview of cultivation, production and manufacturing trends of the main illicit drugs, using, comparing and contextualising data from official and other sources. The final conclusions cast doubt upon any claims of measurable and sustainable progress. The available evidence does not provide any ground for optimism and the "drugs-free world by 2008" pledge made at the UNGASS appears as unlikely now as it did five years ago.