Plenary Session: Addressing and Countering the World Drug Problem

 

UN reports, including the flagship World Drug Report continue to document increases in illicit manufacture and production, trafficking and use of drugs, especially synthetic drugs. All parts of the world are affected. The harms due to these substances continue to rise, with youth most at risk. The phenomenon is also associated with other crimes and impact on security. Some key challenges in addressing the drug problem include, innovation in clandestine manufacture, especially with designer precursors, identification and detection of substances, poly-substance use, cyber markets, the emergence of new psychoactive substances, and safe disposal of seized drugs and chemical precursors. The presentation reflects on the global and regional drug problem and provides perspectives on the increasing relevance of forensic science in impacting global drug policies and finding sustainable solutions.

 

Short Biography: Dr Justice Tettey is the Chief of the Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) degree from the University of Science and Technology, Ghana. He was awarded the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Analysis (Quality Management) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmaceutical Analysis and Drug Metabolism by the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

 

Dr. Tettey has over 30 years of experience in various aspects of medicines regulation and international drug control and has published extensively on a wide range of topics including international drug policy, pharmaceutical analysis, drug metabolism and toxicity, illicit synthetic drug markets and forensic science. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry of the United Kingdom and was awarded an honorary degree of the Doctor of Laws by the University of Dundee, United Kingdom in 2019 for his contribution to forensic science.