Towards a comprehensive national policy on drug abuse

Drug abuse is complex in its causation and ramifications. No country has been able to respond successfully to the problems brought in the wake of drug abuse by having recourse to a single strategy. In 1987 the United Nations adopted a comprehensive multidisciplinary outline for future activities in drug abuse control. This provided, for the first time, a comprehensive framework within which countries can elaborate policies and programmes tailor-made to national situations. However, in order to facilitate the development and implementation of such policies and programmes it is essential that certain conditions exist: strong political will at national level; recognition of the need for an integrated policy; adequate legal framework and enforcement capability; coordinated response at international, national and local level; and recognition of drug abuse in planning changes in different sectors.