What is the lead United Nations drug control organization?

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the United Nations' (UN) lead drug control organization. Established in 1997, UNODC consists of the Drug Programme and the Crime Programme. UNODC has approximately 350 staff members worldwide. Its headquarters are in Vienna and it has 22 Field Offices as well as Liaison Offices in New York and Brussels.

What's the difference between UNODC and UNDCP?

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the umbrella organization that makes up the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP). It also includes the Terrorism Prevention Branch and the Global Programmes against Money Laundering, Corruption, Organized Crime and Trafficking in Human Beings. All the organizations are based in Vienna, Austria.

What is the UN’s approach to the drug problem?

UNODC assists law enforcement worldwide by providing expert training in interdiction and investigation techniques and through the provision of operational equipment. UNODC collaborates with INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization to curb illicit trafficking by sharing information on global trafficking trends, smugglers' modus operandi and drug courier profiles. UNDCP alternative development assistance provides new economic opportunities to regions that are transitioning from opium poppy, coca and cannabis cultivation.

What is the UN doing to address the demand for drugs? 

UNODC supports drug-abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers around the world. To find out more about what UNODC is doing click on the drug abuse and drug demand section of the main UNODC web site. For information about UNODC projects in individual countries, go to worldwide field office web sites from the home page.

Who heads up the UNODC and what are his qualifications?

The Secretary-General has appointed Antonio Maria Costa (Italy) as the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and as the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna. Mr. Costa joins the UN from his position as Secretary-General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London.  Mr. Costa was born on 16 June 1941 in Mondovi, Italy. He holds a degree in political science from the University of Turin and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley.

From 1969 to 1983, Mr. Costa served as an economist in the United Nations Department of International Economics and Social Affairs and eventually became Head of Unit. He was subsequently appointed Under-Secretary-General (Special Counselor) at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris where he served until 1987.  He served at the Commission of the European Union between 1987 and 1992, rising to the post of Director-General for Economics and Finance. As Secretary-General of EBRD, Mr. Costa oversaw political issues, institutional affairs, corporate governance and questions relating to shareholders.

What is the Commission on Narcotic Drugs?

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policy-making body within the United Nations system dealing with drug-related matters. It analyses the world drug situation and develops proposals to strengthen the international drug control system to combat the world drug problem. In 1991, the UN General Assembly established the Fund of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and expanded the mandate of the Commission to enable it to function as the governing body of UNDCP.

What is the International Narcotics Control Board?

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) monitors compliance with the provisions of the international drug control treaties. The INCB ensures that adequate supplies of legal drugs are available for medical and scientific purposes. The Board also makes certain that no leakage from licit sources of drugs to illicit trafficking occurs. It identifies and helps to correct weaknesses in drug control systems and determines which chemicals used to illicitly manufacture drugs should be under international control.

Where can I find the full text of UN drug conventions?

The major UN drug conventions can be read in their entirety on the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) web site.

Where can I find global statistics and UN reports about drugs?

The UNODC Research Section compiles statistic and analysis regarding drug trends around the world. To find out more, visit the UNODC's statistics and analysis section of the web site or to download the latest publications, visit the news and publications section.

Where does UNODC get its funding from?

UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from governments, for 90 percent of its financing.