Download pdf: Open letter to UNODC and INCB, World Drug Day 2021.
Signatories:
Dr Kenneth Finn (US), Co-Vice-President The International Academy on the Science and Impacts of Cannabis (IASIC1.org)
Mary Brett(Biologist), Chair Cannabis Skunk Sense UK (cannabisskunksense.co.uk)
Knut T. Reinås, Head of the board of Forbundet Mot Rusgift, Norway
Prof. Mary Cannon MB BCh BAO, FRCPsych, MSc, PhD RCSI Ireland
Deirdre Boyd, CEO DB Recovery Resources UK (DB@recoveryresources.com)
Heidi A Swan Author producer anti marijuana advocate(www.anightinjail.com) US
Herschel Baker International Liaison Director, Queensland Director Drug Free Australia (www.drugfree.org.au)
A-CEART Action Campaign for Education Against Road Tragedies(drug driving) Ireland
Shane W Varcoe, Exec Dir. Dalgarno Institute, Australia(www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au)
Bob McCoskrie, National Director – Family First NZ (New Zealand)
Collis Parrett (member DFA Australia)
Geraldine Casey (Australia) Parent advocate
AB Lagersweij, Director Moedege Moeders, The Netherlands
Eze Eluchi Esq (Lawyer), Exec Director PADDI, Lagos, Nigeria
Shay Cullen, Founder Exec Dir PREDA Foundation, Philippines (www.preda.org)
Gráinne Kenny Women of Europe Award – Médaille de Maire de Strasbourg – Médaille de Maire de Paris – Swedish Parent Award – Lord Mayor’s Award Dublin – EURAD Awards (2004 – 2008) – Dr Mareese van Swinderenfonds (Netherlands) Award – Excellency Diploma International Centre for Anti Drugs and Human Rights (ICAHR) Romania Co-founder – Co-founder Stamp Out Slavery (SOS) Romania – Co-founder Community Action on Drugs CAD Ireland – Hon President EURAD – Drug Free Nation Pakistan Advisory Board – PREDA Foundation Philippines Board – PADDI Foundation, Lagos – cannabis skunk sense UK – Modige Moeders Netherlands – IOGT Norway – A-Ceart Road Safety Ireland ¬– USA State Department Visitors Programme 1991 – US Airforce Medal of Merit presented by the Commander in Brazil 2001; IASIC Advisory Board
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Text:
26 June: UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
UN Convention on the Rights of Children:
“We shall protect all children from the use of and involvement with narcotic drugs”.
To follow this direction we must but emphasis on the importance of primary drug prevention. We do not know the proportions of all government monies which initially go to, or subsequently end up (mainly via State/Territory government decisions) as Primary Prevention (preventing the start of drug taking) and then Secondary Prevention ( provision of ambulances and ambulance officers right through hospitalisation and all medical presences throughout the long treatment process)… and then Tertiary Prevention.
We call on greater budget outlay in Primary Prevention with an emphasis on restricting the normalisation of cannabis which is proven to damage the mental health of young people.
If Budget monies going to Secondary and Tertiary outweigh that going to Primary, it is clear that the Primary drug strategy is a failure. Clearly those monies going to Secondary and Tertiary are being spent on the failures stemming from a totally inadequate Primary policy setting.
“The action plan sets out a specific timetable for these actions, a list of responsible parties and a series of indicators to measure effectiveness. The plan was prepared by national and EU representatives on the Council’s Horizontal Working Party on Drugs (HDG) under the Portuguese Presidency of the EU.”
We note with dismay that the working group presided over by Portugal did not closely monitor the increase in homelessness in member states that have embraced drug decriminalization (Portugal and the Czech Republic) and the rates of drug use in that subpopulation. The rate of drug use among the homeless does not get included in surveys conducted by EMCDDA. This must be addressed.
We call upon all signatories to these Conventions to adhere vigorously to this neglected Convention preventing children from exploitation in the drugs trade. Prevention not damage control through decriminalisation and other harm reduction strategies must be the way forward in the growing drug market if we are serious about protecting our children.
DVD: ‘Drug Policy – Prevent Don’t Promote – changing the Narrative’? a limited number available free of charge courtesy of Dalgarno Institute, Australia. Contact gkeurad@gmail.com