In 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
Illicit drugs destroy innumerable individual lives and undermine our societies.
Confronting the illicit trade in drugs and its effects remains a major challenge for the international community. General Assembly Twentieth Special Session World leaders met in New York from 8 to 10 June 1998 in a Special Session of the UN General Assembly to adopt a worldwide plan to substantially reduce drug demand and supply by the year 2008.