United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in addressing the issues of drugs, crime and terrorism. Working in cooperation with our partners and through our network of field offices, UNODC helps Member States facing urgent problems including smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, wildlife crime, maritime crime, cybercrime and trafficking in illicit drugs, firearms and cultural property. Further, UNODC seeks to combat corruption, reinforce efforts to prevent and counter terrorism, and enhance alternative development and access to controlled substances for medical purposes, promote evidence-based approaches to drug use prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as HIV and AIDS. The Office has a strong collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to reinforce the need to put public health at the core of all responses to the world drug problem. 

The three pillars of the UNODC work programme are:

  1. Field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of Member States to counteract illicit drugs, crime and terrorism
  2. Research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues and expand the evidence base for policy and operational decisions
  3. Normative work to assist States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties, the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime and terrorism, and the provision of secretariat and substantive services to the treaty-based and governing bodies.

Good Policy and Practice in Health Education

Book
 - 
Booklet 10: Education sector responses to the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs The latest volume in the Good Policy and Practice in Health Education Series has been developed via international consultation between the United Nations...

Synthetic Drugs on the Rise in Afghanistan

News
Seizures of methamphetamine have increased in Afghanistan, according to a new report from the United Nations drug and crime agency. It also suggests that the drug is being produced inside the country. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC...

60th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Event Date
 - 
Vienna
Austria

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policy-making body of the UN drug control system. The CND meets annually when it considers and adopts a range of decisions and resolutions. The 60th session of the CND will take place in Vienna from the 13th to the 17th of March, 2017.

Terminology and Information on Drugs

Book
 - 
PREFACE The UNODC publication Terminology and Information on Drugs introduces basic concepts and materials on substances under international control, which are most frequently manufactured or processed and/or abused, as well as definitions...
Terminology and Information on Drugs

International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders

Book
 - 
Drug use disorders are a serious global health problem. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that 246 million people, or one in twenty 15- to 64-year-olds, used an illegal drug in 2013. Of those who use, one in ten...
International Standards

Helping Young People Lead Healthy Lives

News
'Listen First' is a drug prevention initiative that aims at raising awareness around listening to children and youth as the first step to help them grow healthy and safe. This global campaign targets parents, teachers, policy makers, health...
Listen First Campaign

UNODC World Drug Report 2016

Book
 - 
Around five per cent of the adult population, or nearly 250 million people between the ages of 15 and 64, used at least one drug in 2014, according to the latest World Drug Report released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and...
UNODC World Drug Report 2016