Drugs in Europe and Asia

08021090 Chiu Chi Hon, Ryan

10003770 Lau Sin Ming, Rebecca

Introduction:

Drug Usage08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

*Cannabis is the most commonly used drug within the EU

At least 45 million [18%] people having tried it at least once in their lives

*Data from EU Commission Report, 1999**Data from World Drug Report 2010

**There are 64,580,000 estimated illicit cannabis users in 2008 aged 15-64 years in Asia

Introduction:

Drug Business

08021090 Chiu Chi Hon, Ryan

10003770 Lau Sin Ming, Rebecca

Current drug trade

is worth 400 billion USD or

8% of all international trade.

€1,000

€11,000

€24,000

€101,000

Wholesale heroin prices are increasing during drug trafficking

Introduction:

Drug Perception

08021090 Chiu Chi Hon, Ryan

10003770 Lau Sin Ming, Rebecca

Creative Wallpaper about Cannabis could easily be found on the Internet.

But the makers are mostly the Westerns.

History of Drug use:

Introduction08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

RebeccaHuman drug abuse began thousands of

years agoChinaEgypt

IndiaThe Middle EastAmericas

Cannabis麻黃 Ephedra

Opium

Medicinal purposesGeneral health tonics

Recreational use later

History of Drug use:

Asia08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

South-West AsiaSumerians recorded a “joy

plant” (Presumably Opium poppy)

Eastern AsiaChinese emperors in the 3000 B.C.E.

ate or brewed cannabis in tea

Western AsiaIn the 11th century,

Persian soldiers would smoke

hashish to prepare for battle

ChinaSupply from India,

Turkey and Iran

Iran

As an important source of global opium supply

During the 18th and 19th Century

History of Drug use:

Europe08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

Rome The use of cannabis is mentioned

as a medical remedy.

GermanyPeople believed that one of the goddess indeed inhabited inside

the cannabis

During the 18th and 19th Century

Many derivatives are available: Examples are Morphine and

HeroinManufacture of many opium-based preparations and tonics

with harmless-sounding names, like Children's Comfort and

Mother Bailey's Quieting Syrup

History of Drug use:

Europe & Asia

08021090 Chiu Chi Hon, Ryan

10003770 Lau Sin Ming, Rebecca

The drug production and consumption relationshipOpium as a commodity to reshape the

trade balancesBritish total exports of Bengal opium

Of the total revenues of the British administration in

India contributed by opium sales

6,372 mt.By 1857

127

mt.

By 1800

By 1830s,

11%By 1850s,

17%

*Contemporary Drug use:

Asia08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

*The 20th & 21st Century

Drug ProductionDrug Consumption

From World drug report 2010

China: 0.25%Myanmar: 0.6%

Afghanistan produces

90% of the world's opium poppy

Myanmar accounts

for 21% of the world’s supply of opium

Laos accounted for

about 4%

*Contemporary Drug use:

Europe08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

*The 20th & 21st Century

Drug Consumption

Drugs also became associated with particular forms of music and life-

styles

1960s Mods1970s Punk1980s Rap

08021090 Chiu Chi Hon, Ryan

10003770 Lau Sin Ming, Rebecca

*Contemporary Drug use:

Europe & Asia*The 20th & 21st Century

Analysis08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

Globalization enhance the drug business by producing global consumer and producer

Independent establishment of drug-use customs

Inter-influences between cultures due to the political and military expansion and the more extensive sea travel

Emergence of different drugs due to advanced technology

The cultural revolutions of the 60s and the 70s were one of the factors led to the growth of the drug culture in

Western countries

Drug policy and Penalty:

Asia08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Drug problem is seriously concerned

Drugs as a regional and transnational issueThis year, the first “Training Course on Drugs Analysis and Identification for Asian Countries” (亚洲国家毒品检测专题培训班 ) is introduced by China’s People Public Security UniversityDeath Penalty is NOT RARE in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Pakistan

Drug policy and Penalty:

Europe08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

The general aim of EU Policy:

A balanced approach of combining demand and supply reduction

Specific EU member states policy --- Netherland:1. Soft drugs are regarded as low-risk

2. The sale of small quantities for drugs for personal use is openly tolerated

3. One of first countries to introduce heroin-assisted treatment and

safe injection sites

Analysis08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

The EU policy is more balanced with greater emphasis on demand reduction

Policies from punitive measures to prevention and careConsensus that prisons are not appropriate

places for drug addicts.

Drug Perception:

Europe & Asia

08021090 Chiu Chi Hon, Ryan

10003770 Lau Sin Ming, Rebecca

In Asia:In Europe:

Conclusion08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebecca

Whether you like it or not, the drugs business has been around us for centuries

Whether you believe it or not, if we are totally drug-free, many people would lose the meaning

of life, while more would lose their livingsCompared to Asians, Europeans take drug

abuse as a health issue, rather than a criminal oneDrugs somehow represent a life style in the

West, while in the East they are the symbol of “Sick Man of Asia”

Reference08021090 Chiu Chi Hon,

Ryan10003770 Lau Sin Ming,

Rebeccahttp://www.unodc.org/unodc/index.htmlhttp://blog.thegooddrugsguide.com/0754/7-countries-where-drug-lords-lord-it-over/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/health/article-24005027-dr-christian-jessen-evidently-the-drug-laws-dont-work.dohttp://www.arbitragemagazine.com/topics/culture/worlds-drug-addicted-countries/http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/history/first12000/1.htmhttp://forums.skadi.net/showthread.php?t=16621http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/01/0121_040121_medicinalplants.htmlhttp://www.emcdda.europa.eu/html.cfm/index6790EN.htmlThe political Economy of Narcotics: Production, consumption and Global Markets – Julia BuxtonAnti-drugs policies of the European Union: Transnational Decision-making and the Politics of Expertise – Martin ElvinsThe Politics of Drugs: from production to consumption - Peadar KingDrugs in Society: Causes, concepts and control – Michael D. LymanThe Golden Triangle: inside Southeast Asia’s drug trade – Ko-Lin Chin