Three Rivers supported International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Updated: 7 July 2020


Three Rivers District Council fully supports the United Nations’ war on drugs on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on 26 June and every other day too.

Originally instigated by a resolution of a special session on drugs of the UN’s General Assembly in 1987, the annual awareness day was founded to mark the centenary of China’s early efforts to combat the trade in opium – widely regarded as the start of the international war on drugs.

The commemorative day highlights the dangers of drug use and their illegal trade and provides educational material to teachers and public officials all over the world to help spread the message about the extreme cultural and economic harm the trade in drugs is still doing across the globe one hundred years after the war on drugs was initially launched in Shanghai around the start of the 20th Century.

Cllr Roger Seabourne, Lead Member for Community Safety and Partnerships, said: “This day reminds us that many people are affected by drug use and drug trafficking. We continue in partnership with the police to combat both drug demand and supply, whilst encouraging access to treatment for addicts.

“Drug trafficking is a huge challenge across the UK. Vulnerable people who are desperate for monetary stability and where security is lax, are likely to fall prey to these networks of crime. I want to remind communities to continue to help us combat these issues by staying alert and reporting any concerns via the non-emergency number 101, or if a crime is in progress, dial 999. Together we can make the district an even more welcoming and safer place for everyone.”