PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE UNODC OFFICE IN UZBEKISTAN

Regional offices of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Tashkent hosted a press conference dedicated to the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The event was announced to the World Drug Report 2015. The document notes that the consumption of drugs in the world has remained stable, access to drug treatment and HIV - insufficient.

As regional representative of UNODC in Central Asia Allium Mittal noted, annually about 200 thousand people worldwide are becoming victims of trafficking. According to her, in 2013, 246 million people in the world between the ages of 15 and 64 took illegal drugs, about 27 million of which are problematic drug users. She also reported that in 2014 the global level of potential opium production reached 7554 tons.

Speaking at a press conference, Director of the National Information-Analytical Center on Drug Control under the Cabinet of Ministers A.Mansurov noted that our country remains a priority for the prevention of drug abuse, promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly among young people. According to him, this work interact law enforcement agencies, government and self-government, educational institutions and NGOs.

He elaborated on the measures taken in Uzbekistan to enhance the technical capacity of the competent authorities, including on equipping of number of the checkpoints of Republic with large-sized stationary and mobile scanners.

At the end of the press conference media representatives received answers to all their questions.