Kazakhstan calls for Urgent Action Against Emerging Drug Threats

Kazakhstan calls for Urgent Action Against Emerging Drug Threats

Vienna, March 13, 2025 – As part of the 68th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Kazakhstan organized a side event titled "The Cost of Delay: Rapid Response to the Threats of New Psychoactive Substances as a Key Factor in Reducing Drug Demand." The event was co-organized by the Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to International Organizations in Vienna, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in countering the threat of new psychoactive substances (NPS) during his speech at the opening of a side event.

In this context, Ambassador Tileuberdi highlighted a recent achievement of Kazakh diplomacy — the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution on the establishment of a UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty (March 4, 2025, New York). This initiative reflects a shared commitment to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, strengthening regional cooperation, and addressing key socio-economic challenges and security issues.

Key speakers at the event included Oliver Stolpe, Regional Representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and Ernest Robello, Director of the European Union's Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP).

During the side event, representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Kazakhstan, as well as the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Health, and Justice, presented reports on national initiatives to combat the spread of NPS. Discussions covered legal regulations, innovative law enforcement methods, forensic drug analysis, and drug addiction treatment programs. Additionally, a representative of the Kazakh non-governmental organization "Khak-Nazar" shared experiences on engaging civil society in drug prevention and rehabilitation efforts.

The discussion generated strong interest among foreign delegations and international organizations, confirming the relevance of the topic and the need to strengthen cooperation in this area.