TCMUN
CND
Committee on Narcotic Drugs
The Committee on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of drug control. Established in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the CND plays a key role in supervising the implementation of international drug control treaties and shaping global policies on drug-related matters. It is composed of 53 member states, elected by ECOSOC for four-year terms, with membership distributed to ensure equitable geographic representation. The Committee’s main responsibilities include monitoring the world drug situation, proposing measures to address illicit drug production, trafficking, and abuse, and making decisions on the scheduling of substances under the international drug control conventions. It also coordinates with other UN bodies, specialized agencies, and member states to promote balanced, evidence-based approaches that consider both health and security concerns. The CND meets annually in Vienna, with additional intersessional meetings as needed, to address emerging challenges and adopt resolutions guiding global drug policy. Through its work, the Committee on Narcotic Drugs influences international strategies to combat the world drug problem while fostering cooperation among nations.
Chairs
Topic 1:
Creating Effective Drug Policy in Transit Countries
Countries’ roles in global drug networks vary based on geography, political stability, and law enforcement capacity, influencing whether they serve as transit points for international trafficking. Transit countries, where drugs pass en route to other destinations, are key nodes in trafficking routes but often face institutional limitations that strain vulnerable populations.
Drug policies aim to address illicit drug use with a focus on health outcomes, guided by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which defines controlled substances. The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) leads UN policymaking on drug issues, promoting evidence-based strategies, human rights, and treaty compliance. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports balanced approaches combining enforcement with treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, and harm reduction.
Although global drug use remains stable, the rise in non-medical fentanyl and Tramadol use has driven more overdose deaths and created disparities in pain relief access. In response, CND emphasizes integrating enforcement with health-centered measures, especially in transit countries, to address both trafficking and public health challenges.
Topic 2:
Addressing the Impact of the Global Trade in Opiates
Since 1946, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has overseen international controls on opioids, which include both natural opiates from the opium poppy and synthetic drugs with similar effects. The illicit opiate trade involves all stages from cultivation to distribution, with major production regions such as Afghanistan and the Golden Triangle often driven by conflict, instability, and rural poverty. To address this, CND and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) promote “alternative development” programs, offering sustainable livelihoods to farmers engaged in illicit cultivation.
The rise of synthetic opioids has created new challenges for drug control, including the diversion of legal pharmaceuticals into illicit markets. These drugs are cheaper, more potent, and linked to high overdose rates, with global supply chains fueling geopolitical tensions between nations like the United States, Mexico, and China. New trafficking routes and money laundering schemes further complicate enforcement. The blurred line between legitimate and illicit use heightens public health risks and demands coordinated CND action to meet Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda.