Training Material: 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 was adopted by Governments at a special international conference on 30 March 1961 in New York and entered in force in 1964. It replaces previous treaties on the control of opiates, cannabis and cocaine concluded since the beginning of the 20th century. The Single Convention was amended by the Protocol amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, adopted on 25 March 1972 in Geneva.
The Single Convention is the result of the recognition by the United Nations of the fact that the adequate provision of narcotic drugs for medical purposes is indispensable for the welfare of mankind, as well as of the fact that drug addiction is a worldwide social and economic threat. Therefore, the Single Convention aims to restrict the use of narcotic drugs to medical and scientific purposes and to prevent their diversion and abuse, while at the same time ensuring their availability for legitimate purposes. It includes control measures over the cultivation of plants that serve as sources of raw material of narcotic drugs, provisions regarding the obligations of national authorities in the application of control measures over the production, manufacture, trade, and distribution of narcotic drugs, as well as provisions for the medical treatment and rehabilitation of addicts.
The Single Convention also emphasizes the role of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in ensuring a balance between the supply of and demand for narcotic drugs for medical and scientific purposes and helping to prevent the illicit drug cultivation, production, manufacture, traffic and use. The Single Convention stresses the need for cooperative and coordinated international action in dealing with the problems associated with drug abuse.