Need to reduce supply and demand of synthetic drugs, step up rehabilitation and reintegration and engage youth, stressed at OSCE-wide event

VIENNA, 4 June 2019 – Reducing demand and supply in illicit drugs, curbing their trade via the Darknet, promoting international partnerships, engaging with young people and stepping up rehabilitation and reintegration measures are key to countering the evolving threat of illicit synthetic drugs, said participants of the two-day 2019 OSCE-wide conference that concluded today in Vienna.

Held annually since 2007, this year’s OSCE-wide anti-drug conference entitled “Evolving Threat of Synthetic Drugs: from Addiction to Rehabilitation and Reintegration” brought together some 160 experts and practitioners from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, OSCE executive structures, international and regional organizations and civil society.

Opening the conference, the Head of the Task Force for the Slovak 2019 OSCE Chairmanship, Ambassador Róbert Kirnág, pointed to the alarming trend that has seen synthetic drugs flooding the markets, overtaking traditional plant-based drugs. In Slovakia “methamphetamine has overtaken heroin in terms of both the amount seized and the number of registered addicts,” he said. “We need to react - quickly - to these changing trends.”

“To specifically respond to the synthetic opioid crisis, UNODC has developed a comprehensive, strategic response to support affected countries to predict, prevent and protect against such challenges,” remarked UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov. He invited the OSCE to contribute its expertise to the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs, which was recently launched by UNODC as part of its integrated Opioid Strategy.

Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy of Kazakhstan for Afghanistan Stanislav Vassilenko spoke of his country’s recent counternarcotic efforts, which reduced the number of drug addicts by more than 40 per cent in the last five years. "Kazakhstan stands ready to share its best practices with OSCE participating States from Vancouver to Vladivostok," he said. He also cited the law adopted in December 2018 and developed with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan that aims to improve state control over synthetic drugs.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said the OSCE has stepped up its efforts to combat the threat of synthetic drugs. He mentioned activities the OSCE has conducted with support from its field operations, including strengthening border security, delivering law enforcement anti-drug training and launching drug prevention campaigns targeting young people to counter the misconception that synthetic drugs are harmless. He also stressed the need for “closer co-operation with civil society, NGOs, and prevention and rehabilitation centres to effectively update legislative frameworks and establish more effective treatment and integration procedures”.

Participants discussed the challenges posed by modern technologies, including the use of the Darknet for trade in illicit drugs, especially among young people. The conference promoted the implementation of the 2012 OSCE Concept on Combating the Threat of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors, and recommendations of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem as key frameworks to combat this challenge.