Making it possible for governments to do what they say.

• Author: Ghodse, Hamid
• Position: Includes related articles - International Narcotics Control Board

During the last century, narcotic drugs, particularly opiates, were freely available throughout the world. The opium trade had become a profitable business with financial interests leading to two opium wars, while the pharmaceutical and food industries developed products containing heroin and cocaine which were freely available to the population. As a result, addiction was a mass phenomenon in Asia, as well as in some European countries.

Against this background, 13 nations came together at Shanghai, China, for the first international conference on narcotic drugs in 1909. Their forum became known as the Opium Commission, and their meeting led to the signing of the first drug control treaty - the International Opium Convention - the first binding instrument of international law governing the control of drugs.

Since that time, a tight control network of Conventions (see * on page 27) has gradually been established to limit the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to medical and scientific purposes only and to prevent illicit trafficking both in drugs and in chemicals used to manufacture them.

In order to ascertain whether the objectives of the international conventions are being met, the INCB may investigate all aspects of the licit activities related to drugs, as well as government action to counter illicit trafficking and abuse.

It also receives information on illicit drug trafficking from Governments, competent organs of the United Nations, including the United Nations International Drug Control Programme, and other international organizations. This information is analyzed in order to examine whether the drug control treaties have been implemented. If inconsistencies or possible violations of treaty provisions are detected, the Board addresses the Governments concerned.

Ensuring a balance between the supply of and the demand for opiate raw materials for medical and scientific purposes is a field where commercial interests and agricultural and social concerns interact closely with the objective of preventing proliferation of sources of supply. The INCB organizes informal meetings between representatives of major producers and importers of opiate raw materials at which participants can exchange data and views.

In agreement with the Government concerned, confidential visits to countries are arranged to examine national drug control structures, legislative measures, administrative practices and other action taken to combat drug...