ID :
18684
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 22:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/18684
The shortlink copeid
USE OF SYNTHETIC DRUGS ON THE RISE IN ASIA, GULF COUNTRIES
BANGKOK, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- The global market for amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) is estimated at US$65 billion, wholesale and retail combined as the use of synthetic drugs worsens in Asia, including in Gulf countries, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Unodc) said Tuesday.
In its 2008 Global Assessment of amphetamine, methamphetamine (meth) and
ecstasy, Unodc said the situation has stabilised in most developed countries but
worsening in developing countries, such as in East and South-East Asia, and the
Middle East, especially in the Gulf countries.
The report reveals that the use of these drugs, on an annual basis, exceeds
that of cocaine and heroin combined, while the production is hard to trace
unlike plant-based drugs.
After substantial increases in the late 1990s when some drugs like meth
were considered public enemy number one, the use of synthetic drugs in North
America, Europe and Oceania has stabilised and even declined, but the problem
has shifted to new markets over the past few years, the report reveals.
Asia, with its huge population and increasing affluence, is driving demand,
as in 2006, almost half of Asian countries reported an increase in
methamphetamine use.
In the same year, Saudi Arabia seized more than 12 tonnes of amphetamine
(mostly in the form known as Captagon), accounting for a staggering one-quarter
of all ATS seized in the world (sky-rocketing from one percent in
2000/1).
In 2007, the amount increased again to almost 14 tonnes. In South Africa,
the number of seized methamphetamine laboratories has consistently gone up for
the past five years while domestic consumption has increased.
During the launching of the report here today, Unodc executive director,
Antonio Maria Costa warned that ATS was being used as "a cheap and available
tonic for our fast and competitive times -- for entertainment in discos (mostly
in the West) and for greater stamina in assembly lines, and behind a steering
wheel (in the East)".
He said "synthetic drugs are falsely perceived as being harmless -- "pills
do not kill or spread HIV/AIDS", it is said.
"This is dangerous because while users experience increased confidence,
sociability and energy, they can quickly become dependent and suffer serious
mental health problems or even brain damage. Paranoia, kidney failure, violence,
internal bleeding are among the side effects of the drug," he said.
Costa said that a decade ago, synthetic drugs were a cottage industry, but
now they were big business controlled by organised crime syndicates involved in
all phases of this illicit trade, from smuggling precursor chemicals to
manufacturing the drugs and trafficking.
In its 2008 Global Assessment of amphetamine, methamphetamine (meth) and
ecstasy, Unodc said the situation has stabilised in most developed countries but
worsening in developing countries, such as in East and South-East Asia, and the
Middle East, especially in the Gulf countries.
The report reveals that the use of these drugs, on an annual basis, exceeds
that of cocaine and heroin combined, while the production is hard to trace
unlike plant-based drugs.
After substantial increases in the late 1990s when some drugs like meth
were considered public enemy number one, the use of synthetic drugs in North
America, Europe and Oceania has stabilised and even declined, but the problem
has shifted to new markets over the past few years, the report reveals.
Asia, with its huge population and increasing affluence, is driving demand,
as in 2006, almost half of Asian countries reported an increase in
methamphetamine use.
In the same year, Saudi Arabia seized more than 12 tonnes of amphetamine
(mostly in the form known as Captagon), accounting for a staggering one-quarter
of all ATS seized in the world (sky-rocketing from one percent in
2000/1).
In 2007, the amount increased again to almost 14 tonnes. In South Africa,
the number of seized methamphetamine laboratories has consistently gone up for
the past five years while domestic consumption has increased.
During the launching of the report here today, Unodc executive director,
Antonio Maria Costa warned that ATS was being used as "a cheap and available
tonic for our fast and competitive times -- for entertainment in discos (mostly
in the West) and for greater stamina in assembly lines, and behind a steering
wheel (in the East)".
He said "synthetic drugs are falsely perceived as being harmless -- "pills
do not kill or spread HIV/AIDS", it is said.
"This is dangerous because while users experience increased confidence,
sociability and energy, they can quickly become dependent and suffer serious
mental health problems or even brain damage. Paranoia, kidney failure, violence,
internal bleeding are among the side effects of the drug," he said.
Costa said that a decade ago, synthetic drugs were a cottage industry, but
now they were big business controlled by organised crime syndicates involved in
all phases of this illicit trade, from smuggling precursor chemicals to
manufacturing the drugs and trafficking.
