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Newsbrief:
WHO
Says
Licit
Drugs
Greater
Health
Threat
Than
Illicit
Ones
3/19/04
In a report released Thursday
in Brasilia, the United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO) found
that the negative health effects of legal drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco,
far exceeded those from illegal drugs. The report, the first of its
kind by the WHO, explored advances in neuroscience in the treatment of
drug dependence.
"The main global health burden
is due to licit rather than illicit substances," said the report.
While the WHO put the number of illegal drug users worldwide at about 200
million, or 3.4% of the global population, it found that illegal drug use
accounted for only 0.8% of global ill health in 2000. Alcohol, on
the other hand, accounted for 4.1% and tobacco for 4.0%.
"Health and social problems
associated with use and dependence on tobacco, alcohol and illicit substances
require greater attention by the public health community," WHO Director-General
Dr. Lee Jong-Wook said in a statement accompanying the report's release.
The report singled out men
living in wealthy countries as particularly vulnerable to tobacco- and
alcohol-related health problems.
The report, "The Neuroscience
of Psychoactive Substance Use and Dependence," is only available by purchase.
Visit http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2004/pr18/en/
to read the press release and executive summary online.
-- END --
|
Issue #329, 3/19/04
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Medical Marijuana in the State Legislatures, 2004 |
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DRCNet StoptheDrugWar.org Merchandise Special Extended |
Newsbrief: WHO Says Licit Drugs Greater Health Threat Than Illicit Ones |
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This Week in History |
Drug War Facts 2004 Now Available Online |
Job Opportunity: Prevention Point Philadelphia Hiring Syringe Exchange Site Worker |
The Reformer's Calendar
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