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Drugs and Crime

Pills in front of a laptop.

From selling fake coronavirus cures online to cyberattacks on hospitals, crime and misinformation is also increasing during the COVID-19 crisis. The United Nations has stepped up its fight against a proliferation of false information about the virus. The excessive amount of information, infodemics, can hamper an effective public health response and create confusion and distrust among people. Secretary-General António Guterres has also warned about the dangerous epidemic of misinformation.

The (INCB) will its 2019 on 27 February 2020 (11 am CET). The report this year has a special focus on improving substance use prevention and treatment services for young people. It also addresses global inequalities in access to pain medications and highlights the prominent role of cannabis among adolescents and adults. Regional developments, among them the opioid crisis in North America and the need to address the illegal drug economy in Afghanistan, are also covered.