Everyone must resolutely fight drug trafficking and drug addiction, which have become a universal scourge

Drug trafficking, which leads to an increase in crime, is one of the most serious threats to security as a source of funding for terrorism

According to the declaration of the member states of the 1987 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the world celebrates 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Drug trafficking and drug addiction are one of the main problems facing the world today. The damage caused by this problem is enormous and leads to the degradation of the drug user's personality, as well as the commission of various crimes, the decline of the material and intellectual potential of society, the deterioration of the gene pool and many serious complications. At the same time, being a source of funding for terrorism, drug trafficking, which leads to an increase in crime, is one of the most serious threats to international security. In this regard, the countries of the world are constantly improving their methods of combating drug addiction and drug trafficking, as well as increasing their efforts to implement an appropriate system of control at the international level.

The Republic of Azerbaijan, supporting all the efforts of the international community, has joined the relevant conventions on combating drug trafficking and psychotropic substances. Taking into account the world experience, our country has created and improved the national regulatory legal framework and done a lot to bring it in line with international standards.

In order to ensure socio-economic stability in the Republic of Azerbaijan, to protect the health, welfare and moral values of the people, the fight against drug addiction and drug trafficking has been identified as a national task. Reforms have made it necessary to unite the efforts of society, state and non-governmental organizations, expand international relations and carry out a complex fight against drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and their precursors and drug addiction.

As the human factor has always been at the centre of the wise policy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, ensuring the rights of citizens, improving their welfare and protecting their health were priorities. Therefore, the importance of the fight against drug addiction, which is one of the factors hindering success in all three areas, was highlighted. According to the Decree "On measures against drug addiction and drug trafficking" signed by the National Leader on 26 August 1996, the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking was established, the main task of which was to ensure the implementation of state policy in the fight against drug addiction and drug trafficking and coordinate the activities of government agencies and public associations in this area, and the foundations of the state's strategic course in the fight against drug trafficking and drug addiction were determined. A number of organizational-legal, institutional and practical measures have been taken in the field of combating drug trafficking and drug addiction in the country, and participation in international initiatives to combat drugs has become more intensive.

In addition, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 15 July 2000, which includes a wide range of measures to combat illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, a programme to fight illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and the spread of drug addiction was approved and implemented effectively.

As a result of the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continues the perfect statehood strategy of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, our state, which is becoming stronger every year, is successfully fighting drug addiction, as well as illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances.

By the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 28 June 2007, the programme to fight illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and the spread of drug addiction (for 2007-2012) and by the Order dated 24 June 2013, the state programme to fight illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and drug addiction in 2013-2018 were approved and successfully implemented.

Also, in order to strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors in our country, to further expand public awareness and address other necessary issues in this area, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan issued a decree on 22 July 2019 to approve the state programme to fight illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors in 2019-2024.

It should be noted that the measures taken on the initiative of the First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to protect the health of the younger generation and their comprehensive development are very important.

Each of us must take an uncompromising stance on drug addiction, which seriously endangers human health and life, the national gene pool, undermines moral and spiritual values, harms humanity, disrupts the harmony of society, slows down socio-economic progress and, in short, paralyzes life. We must resolutely fight illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors.