Celebrity drug use sends wrong message to young people

[5th March 2008]

The United Nations drugs watchdog has said that dealing too softly with celebrity drug-users sends out the wrong message to people, particularly young people.

When the authorities appear to treat famous drug-users, such as Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse leniently, it glamourises narcotics abuse to young people, according to Philip Emafo, president of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

In an annual report by the INCB, which has just been released, there are also calls to target the top drug dealers. The report claimed that too many governments target street dealers rather than the large drug rings and criminal gangs.

The report also expressed concerns over increasing drug-related problems in Afghanistan, which produces 93% of the world's opium.

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