US President Donald Trump launched his activities at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday by chairing a session on Global Call to Action on the world drug problem.
"As the 2018 world drug report highlights, cocaine and opium production have hit record highs," Trump said, adding that states need to curb both supply and demand of drugs around the world.
Some 129 countries signed the one-page Global Call to Action, which was announced by the White House last month.
The unbinding pledge stipulates on states to reduce drug demand, cut off supplies, expand treatment and strengthen international cooperation.
"The call is simple: reduce drug demand, cut off the supply of illicit drugs, expand treatment and strengthen international cooperation. If we take these steps together, we can save the lives of countless people in all corners of the world," Trump said, adding that "when I say "countless," I'm talking about millions and millions of people."
For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked Trump for his words and his initiative to combat the global drug problem, following his remarks Monday.
He said the global drug problem is “alarming,” with some 31 million people around the world requiring treatment and some 450,000 deaths every year from overdoses or drug-related health issues. The UN chief added that “failure is, indeed, not an option,” and added, “Together we will succeed. We will never give up.”
Trump said global drug use has gone up 60 percent from the year 2000 to 2015.
He said he was “thrilled” that some 130 countries have signed on to a US call for action to reduce drug demand, cut off supplies, expand treatment and strengthen international cooperation.
