International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking Date in the current year: June 26, 2024

Substance abuse is a serious public health issue in many countries across the world. Governments try to eliminate it by designing legislation to criminalize specific types of drug abuse. Despite drug prohibition laws (and, to some extent, because of them), illicit drug production and trafficking thrive in many countries.

Illegal drug trade is thought to be linked to violent crime rates. It also has negative effects on national economies. For example, economies of many countries in Latin America are dependent on drug trafficking, which prevents them from developing.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was established to strengthen action and cooperation on all levels in order to build an international society free of drug abuse. Drug abuse is a serious threat to the well-being and safety of humanity which undermines stability and hinders sustainable development.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime calls upon on Member States to organize events that highlight the issue of drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking on June 26 each year.