The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leads the international campaign aimed at raising awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society and especially to young people. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people and mobilize support for drug control.

The international campaign "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs" communicates that the destructive effects of illicit drugs concern us all. Their use harms individuals, families and society at large.

Teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable to using illicit drugs. The prevalence of drug use among young people is more than twice as high as that among the general population. At this age, peer pressure to experiment with illicit drugs can be strong and self-esteem is often low.

Health comes first
The UNODC campaign reaches out to young people, who often talk about the "highs" induced by drugs but may not be aware of the many "lows". Drug use is a concern because it poses a threat to their health. Negative effects vary depending on the type of drug consumed, the doses taken and the frequency of use.

The drugs the campaign focuses on are under international control and include amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), coca/cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates, and sedative hypnotics. Their use is limited exclusively to medical and scientific purposes, given the adverse effects their abuse and trafficking have on health and society.

Disclaimer: Please note that while UNODC supports a free and open debate, comments made by group members on THE WALL are not necessarily the opinion of UNODC. (read less)

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) leads the international campaign aimed at raising awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society and especially to young people. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people and mobilize support for drug control.

The international campaign "Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs" communicates that the destructive effects of illicit drugs concern us all. Their use harms individuals,... (read more)