On Monday, June 26, 2023, at the Palace of Serbia, the Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia organized a conference to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This year’s global campaign by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which commemorates the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, is ” People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention.” UNODC calls on governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders to take measures to protect people, including strengthening drug prevention and treatment, as well as combating illicit drug supply.
Mr. Milan Pekić, the Director of the Office for Combating Drugs, opened the conference and greeted all present participants. Mr. Pekić emphasized that since its establishment in 2014, the Office has dedicated its activities to promoting destigmatization and demarginalization of people facing addiction problems, as well as individuals who have been or are still in the process of recovery from substance abuse. He also highlighted that the Office supports national, regional, and international projects in these areas and will continue to do so in the future.
Following the Director of the Office, Mr. Alexis Goosdeel, the Director of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), addressed the audience via an online platform. EMCDDA is an agency of the European Union that provides information, conducts analyses, and delivers objective information on the state and trends regarding psychoactive substances in Europe. The Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia has a signed working arrangement with EMCDDA, with which it maintains successful cooperation. Mr. Goosdeel greeted the participants in his introductory speech and discussed contemporary trends and challenges related to drugs in Europe.
He thanked the Office for the invitation to participate and wished the attendees a successful discussion.
On this occasion, Mr. Siniša Durkulić, a representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Serbia, presented data from the UNODC World Drug Report for the year 2023. According to the report, the global estimate of the number of people who inject drugs in 2021 is 13.2 million, which is 18% higher than previously estimated. Globally, over 296 million people used drugs in 2021, representing a 23% increase over the previous decade. Meanwhile, the number of people suffering from drug use disorders has risen to 39.5 million, a 45% increase over 10 years.
The conference was attended by representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, representatives of relevant state authorities, representatives of local self-government units, and representatives of civil society organizations.