Last Friday, June 26^th, I had the honor and privilege of attending the release of the United Nation’s 2015 World Drug Report. June 26^th was a significant day for the release of this report as it commemorates the 28^th annual International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This report was particularly important as the UN prepares for the General Assembly Special Sessions (UNGASS) in April 2016. The information below was provided by Drug Free America Foundation.

June 26 is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.  It’s a day to raise awareness of the negative impact to both public health and public safety that illicit drugs have on society as a whole, especially our youth.

Around 200 million people take drugs at least once a year. Of these, 25 million are regarded as drug dependent. Every year 200,000 people die from drug-related illnesses.

Drug use among our youth is more than twice as high as drug use among the general population; three times as high in the case of marijuana.