UNITED NATIONS, June 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for collective effort from all walks of life on Tuesday to stop the scourge of drug abuse.
"Drug abuse is a problem that can be prevented, treated and controlled," Ban said in a message marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Combating drug abuse "requires political leadership and sufficient resources -- particularly for more and better treatment facilities. It requires the engagement of parents and teachers as well as health care and social workers. It requires the media and criminal justice officials to play their part," Ban said.
"All walks of life must join forces and devote special attention to the vulnerable: to those who are vulnerable to taking drugs because of their personal or family situation, and to those who are vulnerable because they take drugs," he said.
The secretary-general urged member states to devote more attention to early detection; to do more to prevent the spread of disease -- particularly HIV and hepatitis -- through drug use; to treat all forms of addiction; and to integrate drug treatment into the mainstream of public health and social services.
The UN General Assembly decided in December, 1987 to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
