On 26 June 2013 it is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Theme for 2013: Make health your 'new high' in life, not drugs

Message By Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

"On this International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, I call on governments, the media and civil society to do everything possible to raise awareness of the harm caused by illicit drugs and to help prevent people profiting from their use."

This important day was created by the United Nations General Assembly to help create a society free of illegal drugs and drug abuse.  The date raises awareness of two important world issues - World Drug Day and the Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking. 

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 , which , at its core, is a health issue. Drug dependence is a disease, not a crime. The real criminals are the drug traffickers. But the supply side is only half of the equation. Unless we reduce demand for illicit drugs, we can never fully tackle cultivation, production or trafficking.

Governments have a responsibility to counteract both drug trafficking and drug abuse, but communities can also make a major contribution. Families, schools, civil society and religious organizations can do their part to rid their communities of drugs. Businesses can help provide legitimate livelihoods. The media can raise awareness about the dangers of narcotics. We can spread such awareness messages , Each of us can share responsibility to make this world free of drug , safer world for all.

Around 210 million people, or 4.8 per cent of the population aged 15-64, took illicit substances at least once in 2010. In 2007 and 2008, cocaine was used by some 16 to 17 million people worldwide. In 2008, global heroin seizures reached a record level of 73.7 metric tons.

International Customs has destroyed 729kg of drugs it has seized to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. A truckload of drugs, weighing 729kg, including methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids were destroyed on Wednesday by Customs staff who had seized the drugs at the border.The drugs were worth tens of millions of dollars. It was done so to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

 In Abu Dhabi , UAE : The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) has launched a nationwide campaign to educate people, especially children and youths, about the risks of drug addiction. The week-long awareness campaign is part of the NRC?s mission to provide outstanding prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services relating to drug and alcohol addiction. The NRC provides services for treatment and rehabilitation of addicts as well as after-care services to help them re-engage in society.Activities and programmes will be launched through print, audio-visual media and social networks to raise awareness of the dangers of drug addiction on the individual and societal level.