Opioid Crisis

Topic:
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: Gabriella Yost

Brazil’s opioid crisis has become a widespread issue over the country and needs to be resolved. Opioids have become a highly addictive substance which have been responsible for hundreds of deaths in Brazil. Other common drugs like heroin, marijuana and crack have also contributed to this issue. Many users of these drugs are found to be young and uneducated adults. Brazil believes its focus needs to be on educating young lives and implementing recovery centers.
Brazil feels we need to focus on preventing the crisis and not just trying to put a stop to it. Brazil wants to construct an educational course to be implemented into highschools which will consist of the education on the effects drugs have on the mind and body. Helping to educate those most at risk will help prevent the further spread of these drugs. We also feel it is important to put in recovery centers for those who have/are suffering the effects of these toxic substances. These recovery units should be available to anybody who desires help. We believe counselors should also be available at the centers to help bring focus to these patients’ mental health along with their physical well being.
Brazil’s target is the young and uneducated. We encourage the United Nations to take the same preliminary course of action in preventing the spread as we are. We feel trying to put a stop to the crisis isn’t enough, we need to help educate those who are most at risk by providing them with information as well as resources.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Norway
Delegate Name: Maya Grossman

Norway believes that every person should be treated with humanity and understanding in a drug-related recovery process. Norwegian drug policies work to establish individual recovery programs and ensure each person gets the dosage of opioids they are medically required to have. Pharmaceutical companies hope to achieve a safe distribution system of opioids and ensure the safety and health of each consumer. Approximately 10% of Norway’s population have received opioids for medical use. Throughout Norway in 2019, opioids were responsible for about 228 out of 275 drug-related deaths.

Norway hopes to combat illegal distribution of opioids and other drugs along with implementation of public health reminders to demonstrate safe drug uses to Norwegians. To ensure the safety of each Norwegian citizen, they must receive only the prescribed amount of drugs from a federal pharmacy. Illegal distribution of unregulated amounts of opioids and other drugs are a main source of overdosage and dangerous drug use. Norway wants to implement illegal distribution policies and make pharmaceutical distribution more available. This can ensure a consumer only has access to the drugs that they need.

Drug policies and government programs must treat citizens with patience and clearly present how to safely take medically prescribed drugs. Norwegians must acknowledge the problem and learn to reach out to pharmacies or recovery programs when in need of intervention. Norway hopes to work within the United Nations to create a synonymous policy on opioid overdose prevention. Norway hopes to create an understanding and affordable environment where citizens can access medically prescribed drugs without turning to illegal, dangerous distribution.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Morocco
Delegate Name: Maya Juratli

Opioid overdoses are the leading cause of drug-related death and one of the leading drug use disorders. Types of opioid/opiates include oxycodone, vicodin, morphine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Many people initially make contact with opioids as a prescription following moderate to severe pain. However, as a highly addictive drug, many users can become severely dependent on Opiates and experience serious cases of withdrawal when they lose access to it. Some users become so dependent that when their prescription is no longer filled, they resort to illegal measures to obtain the drug. This is doubly harmful because alongside the risks that come with illegal drug usage, there is also the risk of contamination due to unmonitored production and distribution.
Globally, over 120,000 deaths occur due to opioid misuse. These deaths can result from overdoses, diseases contracted from used needles, and other drug-related diseases
The worldwide leading producer of cannabis, Morocco has not had a significant problem concerning opioid usage. In fact, Morocco has recently lifted legal barriers concerning opioid access in order to increase the quality of palliative care for Moroccans with chronic illnesses. One of these barriers was changing a law in 2013 to increase the number of weeks a prescription for an opioid analgesic can cover from 1 week to 4. These laws are still more restrictive than the United Nation’s drug conventions but are easing with time.
Although the use of opioid analgesics is increasing in Morocco, there is still a major gap in the treatment of pain. The Human Rights Watch found that Opioid analgesics remain largely unavailable outside health facilities. Although the laws have changed, few steps have been taken to counter physicians’ fears about these medicines. As a result, tens of thousands of Moroccans with chronic illnesses undergo much suffering.
Morocco is interested in preventing the manufacture and spread of the opioid epidemic and ensuring that their usage is limited to those in absolute need and with proper allocation.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: France
Delegate Name: Micaela Story

As the world continues to navigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the opioid crisis, or what many countries refer to as the opioid epidemic, are returning to the spotlight. Around 16 million individuals around the world have had or suffer from opioid use disorder. According to the 2022 UNODC World Drug Report, opioid use has the most significant gender disparity with 85% of users identifying as male. In addition, 77% of drug-related deaths in 2022 were attributable to opioids. With the increasing demand for opioids, many suppliers have begun supplementing their products with dangerous synthetic substances such as fentanyl or tramadol. The illicit production and trade of opioids have become nothing short of a criminal enterprise, causing the crackdown on the opioid trade to become increasingly difficult. There has also been a significant lack of global consensus regarding the public policy on medical opioid use.

Within the past ten years, prescription opioid use in France has more than doubled, however, a report from the European Pain Federation has found no evidence of a “prescription opioid epidemic”. Although the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products concluded the situation is not as dire as in other parts of the world, France has remained cautious and has methods to combat addiction in place. Since 1995 has allowed all doctors regardless of training or specialization to prescribe buprenorphine to combat opioid addiction. As a highly effective opioid addiction treatment, buprenorphine reduces the craving for opioids and is not addictive itself. Within four years of implementing this policy, overdose deaths including those for heroin had declined by 79%. The socialized healthcare system in France has made treatment for addiction to several substances, including opioids, very accessible to citizens across the country.

France plans to continue with the progress made by the National Action Plan on Addictions and take into account the evaluations and outcomes of the plan in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. France will continue to coordinate its national drug policy through Interministerial Mission for Combating Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (MILDECA) and offering addiction treatment through the socialized healthcare system. France looks forward to collaborating with its allies to further the availability of addiction treatment and minimize the distribution of illicit opioids.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Mexico
Delegate Name: Lauren Ye

Opioids are a class of drugs including heroin, fentanyl, and morphine that are used as painkillers. Opioids have proven to be highly addictive substances and the opioid crisis has affected a great number of countries throughout the years. Countries in North and Latin America have been immensely affected by this epidemic. The opioid epidemic is a global issue in which every country has a responsibility to aid their own citizens and other countries, as opioid use affects economies and societies in virtually every country.
Historically, Mexico has not recorded a high use of opioids, however, there have been documents of heroin use. Several factors have contributed to the low rate of opioid use in Mexico. Mexico’s extensive legislation on opioid use has placed barriers to the ability to access opioids. These legislations restrict both the patients and healthcare workers from being able to prescribe and attain opioids. Another factor is the cost of opioids. The mean monthly salary in Mexico is not enough to sustain a continuing use of opioids, therefore not many people are able to afford these drugs. Despite not having an internal problem with opioids, Mexico has been greatly affected by the opioid crisis in North and Latin America. In 2016, opioids caused almost 80% of drug-related deaths in the US. Compared to the US and Canada, Mexico’s opioid crisis is not as severe, but as a country bordering the US, Mexico plays a major role in transporting illegal or illicit opioids such as heroin across the border. Recently, internal and external pressure has increased the threat of a severe opioid epidemic in Mexico. The pharmaceutical industry has shifted its focus and is increasing its presence in Latin American countries. Opioid manufacturers have also increased taxation in countries like the US in order to push the market into low and middle-income countries. Mexico’s population is getting older, and with age comes disease. This will increase the demand for drugs such as opioids. Furthermore, deportation has been a major cause of this epidemic. Studies have shown that in Tijuana, Mexico, a city bordering the US, 40% of people who inject drugs have been deported from the US. Mexico is now the U.S.’s leading supplier of heroin, and this has been accompanied by increased use within the country. Although historically, Mexico has not had a severe opioid crisis within the country, the threat of one has increased in the past few years, and Mexico also plays a crucial role in trafficking heroin and other illicit drugs.
The opioid crisis is a major issue that needs a solution. It is critical that more funding goes to assisting those that already have an opioid addiction. Sufficient funding should be provided for rehabilitation centers It is also important that healthcare providers and workers, patients, and citizens, in general, be educated on the danger of opioids and how to deal with illegal prescribing and misuse of opioids. The opioid crisis in Mexico and the entire world is an issue that threatens the well-being and functionality of the human population, economies, and societies.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Albania
Delegate Name: William Moore

Opioids are potent painkillers derived from opium. They include tramadol, morphine, and codeine, of which are commonly prescribed for trauma injuries, and pain relief for diseases like cancer. Furthermore, heroin, an illegal and highly addictive drug, is also derived from opium. In Europe, heroin is the most common opioid killer in Europe, with the number of people being treated for heroin-related problems being around 14,000 in 2019 alone. Of course, this statistic is from before the pandemic, where an increase in the use of painkillers increased virtually everywhere in the world where they were accessible (the number of people who died from opioid overdose in the United States increased by 120% alone), feeding into this crisis.
While Europe’s opioid epidemic is less severe than several other areas of the world, especially compared to the United States, there is no denying its presence. Though most European countries can be satisfied with most European countries’ approaches, being regarded as realistic and balanced, it is still a prominent crisis in need of attentive action. Prominent politician, Thomas Seyler states, “the trend is pretty stable or declining. We are not in a major epidemic phase. But we have to keep in mind the limitations of these indicators.” Differentiating from these moderate statistics, there is a large opioid, and overall drug crisis in Albania. According to the World Drug Report 2022 from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Albania is the seventh leading cultivator of cannabis in the world, after Morocco, Afghanistan, Spain, Netherlands, Pakistan, and Lebanon.
Albania came first in the Southeast European region, suggesting we have a significant cannabis cultivation trade, either meaning that it is exported or used internally. After Albania came Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. In addition with this, there is an active transshipment point for Albanian narco trafficking organizations moving other illicit drugs, such as cocaine and heroin from countries, such as Turkey and several other South American and Asian countries. Last month, a report by the European Centre for Drug Monitoring found that since 2017, Albanian criminal groups have expanded but also become more sophisticated, working with imports and the distribution of cocaine from Latin America into Europe. “For years, international cocaine importers worked separately from wholesalers and gangs distributing drugs on the streets. However, an Albanian-speaking criminal network abandoned this model and established control over imports and distribution,” the report read. The Albanian government has long claimed it is winning the war against drug cultivation in the country, but concerns remain that this is not the case. Furthermore, there are increasing reports of Albanian drug traffickers exporting their production to other European countries. For example, setting up grow houses in residential properties in the UK, Germany, Austria, and others. Albania is also mentioned in the so-called Balkan route for heroin, which starts from Pakistan, passes through Syria, Turkey, Greece, Albania, and ends in Western European countries. Albania has pledged their efforts to work with the UN to work to improve these prominent issues not only in Albania and Europe, but also with worldwide allies.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Ghana
Delegate Name: Caterina DaSilva

Honorable chairs and fellow delegates, Ghana recognizes the devastating impact the opioid crisis has had on communities around the world. Opioids and illicit opioids that include possible traces of heroin or fentanyl risks lives across the nation. The spread of this uprise comes down to how poverty and a non–enforced drinking age in Ghana as well as inadequate substance abuse education in schools towards youth.While Ghana is not currently facing the same level of opioid addiction and overdoses as some other countries, Ghana acknowledges that no nation is immune to the risks and potential consequences of opioid abuse. Ghana recognizes that the opioid crisis is a global issue that requires a global response.
As a nation, Ghana is committed to taking a proactive stance on this issue. We are working to raise awareness of the risks associated with opioid use and abuse, and to promote non-opioid alternatives for pain management. We are also working to strengthen our drug enforcement agencies and to crack down on illegal trafficking of opioids.We support initiatives such as the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which provides technical assistance to countries in developing and implementing drug control policies and strategies. In addition, Ghana is committed to working with pharmaceutical companies to ensure that opioids are prescribed and distributed responsibly. We recognize that the overprescription of opioids has contributed to the crisis, and we believe that it is important for governments and the private sector to work together to develop guidelines for responsible prescribing and distribution of opioids. Ghana believes that the provision of effective treatment and care services, including access to medication-assisted treatment, is essential in addressing the opioid crisis. Ghana recognizes that access to such services can be limited in low-income communities and will work to ensure that all communities have access to the necessary resources. All in all, Ghana is committed to collaborating with other nations on solving this epidemic that endangers our future youth and country.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Zoe Piotrowski

Around the world, the opioid crisis has consumed millions of people, some resulting in death. The consumption of opioids increased in the 20th century as a prescription for relieving pain. Unfortunately, this class of drugs was highly addictive and caused more negative aspects than good. With the spread of addiction to opioids came an increase in drug trafficking. Ireland has seen and is devastated by the results of this trafficking.

Ireland understands that addiction isn’t necessarily something people can control. Addiction is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly or ignored. People are suffering and making sure the people are getting the right treatment without repeating the same mistakes is first priority.

Ireland has been working to create a safe and sustainable program for their citizens to experience sobriety and help. If the people were given the help they needed, opioid drug trafficking would decrease. The first step to solving this problem is making sure the people are getting guidance. Ireland is ready to promote and provide social stability to other countries in hopes this devastating issue will resolve.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Jasmeher Singh

The nation of Argentina notes that the growing concern for the opioid epidemic is a challenge that we must address as there has been a substantial increase in opioid-related deaths. Argentina recognizes that it is one of the highest suppliers of illicit drugs; however, the nation of Argentina has little to no poppy seeds, and the opioid market is nearly nonexistent. While the government of Argentina supports using opioids only in public health cases, the nation also realizes that many countries’ economies are dependent on opioid trafficking. Similarly to many other Latin American countries, Argentina relays heavily on drug trafficking use which poses numerous problems. The correlation between poverty and drug trafficking also needs to be examined and is essential when finding a solution to preventing the opioid epidemic. The government of Argentina understands the necessity of new policy responses in the face of this epidemic so that innocent people aren’t harmed due to drug trafficking. As of 2021, 20 innocent people have died due to organized crime and gang wars that are occurring in Argentina because of problems with drug trafficking. As a nation, we believe that ensuring innocent people are unaffected in areas where drug trafficking occurs is essential. Furthermore, Argentina is taking into account how the quality of drugs has gone down (adulteration) and how consumers have suffered heavily because of this. Adulteration (the mixing of inferior drugs) has also caused many deaths and monitoring opioids within health institutions is crucial.
The nation of Argentina is deeply concerned about how the instability of nations is affecting drug trafficking. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a large increase in organized crime as well as drug use. Governments became more focused on helping the economy recover rather than focusing on drug trafficking resulting in an increase in illegal opioid usage as well as other drugs. As poverty rates fell to 43.8% in Argentina there have been larger amounts of drug trafficking in high-poverty areas. Furthermore, as 65% of youth are living in poverty in Argentina, they have been more exposed to drug trafficking and opioids. Argentina believes that providing education to the general public, especially the youth who live in high-crime areas, is necessary. Additionally, informing the general population about the harmful effects of opioid use outside of medical use may help decrease opioid usage. Furthermore, ensuring that there are well-trained professionals within health clinics to inform patients about using opioids safely will help prevent the misuse of opioids. Allocating funds to drug prevention organizations will help stop the spread of drugs after the pandemic.
In addition to allocating funds to prevent drug trafficking, there needs to be more transparency within drug trafficking patterns. The nation of Argentina takes note of the increase in drug trafficking patterns especially online amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The consumption of illegal drugs has increased due to the availability of prohibited drugs on the market. Argentina strongly recommends more transparency within the drug market through different databases that can detect changes within illicit drug trafficking. This can help consumers who may not recognize the harmful effects of the drug they just bought.

Works Cited
Baisotti, Pablo A. “Drugs, Drug Trafficking, and Pandemic in Argentina.” Drugs, Drug Trafficking, and Pandemic in Argentina | Small Wars Journal, Drugs, Drug Trafficking, and Pandemic in Argentina | Small Wars Journal, 24 Mar. 2022, https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/drugs-drug-trafficking-and-pandemic-argentina.
“Opioid Overdose.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 4 Aug. 2021, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/opioid-overdose.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2021, https://www.unodc.org/res/wdr2021/field/WDR21_Booklet_1.pdf.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Guatemala
Delegate Name: Alexandra DaSilva

Guatemala believes that the opioid crisis is a particularly serious public health crisis that must be dealt with. The number of drug overdose deaths has increased by almost 30% from 2019 to 2020, with 75% of overdose deaths involving an opioid. A significant amount of opioid-related deaths involve the use of illicit opioids. Illicit opioids include heroin and illegally produced fentanyl, the use of which is increasing. The distribution and use of these illicit drugs is a primarily international problem, as there is an ever-increasing rise in addictions. Often, the spread of opioid addictions is caused by not-properly prescribing of opioids and the incorrect storage and disposal of these opioids.
Guatemala recognizes that it is an active producer of illicit drugs, but has one of the lowest opioid consumption in Latin America, along with Honduras and Bolivia. However, 8% of the GDP in Guatemala is related to drug trafficking, and simply removing drug trafficking from its economy would further weaken an already unstable economy.
Collaborative efforts between nations and jurisdictions are crucial to minimizing the spread of opioids, their misuse, and the distribution of illicit drugs. Guatemala encourages efforts for law enforcement to target large-scale opioid distribution. However, other structures and jobs should be created and used to replace the gap in the economy Guatemala and many other countries would face from the depreciation of drug trafficking. Guatemala also calls for reducing exposure to prescription opioids and refining clinical practice guidelines. This is to ensure patients are able to have access to safer pain treatment when the risks of opioids outweigh the benefits. Prevention is critical in order to prevent increases in the distribution of illicit opioid drugs. Expanding access to safer and more effective pain medication minimizes the distribution and demand of opioids, therefore preventing the spread of illicit drugs.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Gabon
Delegate Name: Mahbuba Mohammed

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Opioid Crisis
Gabon
Mahbuba Mohammed
Forest Hills Northern High School

Opioid abuse and addiction have significantly increased in Gabon, a nation in Central Africa. There are various social, health, and economic issues as a result of opiate misuse. To address the issue of opioid addiction in Gabon, the government, medical community, and society must collaborate.

Opioids are a group of medications that includes both legal and illicit substances like heroin, as well as prescription painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine. Opioids are extremely addictive and can lead to fatal overdoses, respiratory depression, and other major health issues. In many nations, including Gabon, the opioid crisis has emerged as a significant public health concern.

The availability of prescription opioids, lax pharmaceutical industry regulation, limited access to addiction treatment, poverty, and unemployment are only a few of the causes of the opioid problem in Gabon. The opioid epidemic in Gabon is partly due to the overprescription of opioids and the ease with which these medications may be obtained on the black market.

The Gabonese opioid crisis is a serious public health problem that needs to be addressed right away. To address the issue of opioid addiction in Gabon, the government, medical community, and society must collaborate. The opioid problem in Gabon can be addressed and the negative impacts can be reduced by executing a comprehensive strategy that incorporates public awareness, stricter laws, increased access to addiction treatment, and law enforcement measures.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Mozambique
Delegate Name: Victoria Fowler

In Mozambique the struggle of drug abuse among the residents living in the country has increased tremendously. Over the years, clinical help remains in low availability yet, Mozambique still remains with a large population of HIV and HCV diseases. Acknowledging the drug transportation is key in order to address our main issue. A large drug transportation in African countries is currently in urgent demand and Mozambique plays a huge role in the routes of where and how the drugs go. Although we have placed military units to assist police operations along the border to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration, these tactics have unfortunately not helped.

Mozambique wants to ask the other delegates in the room if strengthening military will help prevent smuggling? Mozambique is determined to work with other nations to stabilize and strengthen its military and include more secured checkpoints throughout Mozambique’s routes and borders to insure safety. Mozambique also asks the question of how their going to solve the possible domino effect Mozambique and other nations have began to cause in allowing drug trafficking across our borders. We are concerned that drug trafficking will lead to instability and violence across borders leading to the involvement of the Security Council. In fact, in December 2022, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi visited the U.S. Department of State to welcoming becoming a member of the United Nations Security Council. Mozambique openly attempts to involuntary drug trade on behalf of their government but wishes to also acknowledge their new seat in security council and will bring this issue to this body if need be.

Finally the nation of Mozambique recognizes its struggles and wants to maintain a strong government in order to help their stance in this crisis of drug transportation and abuse. Our residents are in critical condition with the low help of clinical and medical attention. The delegation of Mozambique would welcome any nation present who’s willing to aid and build proper stability and becoming partners in global health initiatives.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Mozambique
Delegate Name: Victoria Fowler

In Mozambique the struggle of drug abuse among the residents living in the country has increased tremendously. Over the years, clinical help remains in low availability yet, Mozambique still remains with a large population of HIV and HCV diseases. Acknowledging the drug transportation is key in order to address our main issue. A large drug transportation in African countries is currently in urgent demand and Mozambique plays a huge role in the routes of where and how the drugs go. Although we have placed military units to assist police operations along the border to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration, these tactics have unfortunately not helped.

Mozambique wants to ask the other delates in the room if strengthing military will help prevent smuggling? Mozambique is determined to work with other nations to stabilize and strengthen its military and include more secured checkpoints throughout Mozambique’s routes and borders to insure safety. Mozambique also asks the question of how their going to solve the possible domino effect Mozambique and other nations have began to cause in allowing drug trafficking across our borders. We are concerned that drug trafficking will lead to instability and violence across birders leading to the involvement of the Security Council. In fact, in December 2022, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyus visited the U.S. Department of State to welcoming becoming a member of the United Nations Security Council. Mozambique openly adempts to involuntary drug trade on behalf of their government but wishes to also acknowledge their new seat in security council and will bring this issue to this body if need be.

Finally the nation of Mozambique recognizes its struggles and wants to maintain a strong government in order to help their stance in this crisis of drug transportation and abuse. Our residents are in critical condition with the low help of clinical and medical attention. The delegation of Mozambique would welcome any nation present who’s willing to aid and build proper stability and becoming partners in global health initiatives.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Ecuador
Delegate Name: Sierra Turner

Half of a million people died because of drug overdose in 2019, mostly due to opioids. As opioids were legally prescribed in pain treatment for chronic pain, use of opioids has only increased since 2019. Since these drugs are so highly addictive, there are many who overuse and misuse opioids. When heroin is regularly used, people develop a tolerance, because of this tolerance, they tend to want more frequent and/or higher doses of the drug. When there is continued use of the drug, people develop a substance use disorder (SUD), which can cause many issues, such as being unable to function properly in various different environments, and health problems. An SUD can be severe or mild, the most severe being addiction, which can lead to overdose and death.

The production of all plants that can be used to produce drugs is illegal in Ecuador. In 2013, the Ecuadorian military destroyed 62,000 lilac poppies that have been known to serve as the primary material for heroin and opium. The legal possession limit in Ecuador is 4 g for opium and 100 mg for heroin, although many source their drugs through illegal methods. To prevent people from using illegal trafficking, Ecuador has taken control of strategic points, such as the Guayaquil Port to investigate containers that could carry drugs. In 2021, Ecuador had confiscated 210 tons, dealing a harsh blow to narcotrafficking. This has resulted in a population largely free from opioid addiction.

To combat the opioid crisis, Ecuador would like to focus more of its anti-narcotics police towards finding and destroying lilac poppy plantations across the country, as well as taking control of various more ports. Ecuador will choose to be more strict with licenses on who can prescribe opium to patients. Ecuador will insist on lowering the legal possession limit of opium and heroin in its country, in hopes that less substance made legal to have, will make it harder for people to develop a tolerance and in turn, will stop people from wanting higher and/or more frequent doses of the drug. Ecuador hopes to work closely with Columbia and Peru to further resolve this issue.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Cheyenne Panek

While Canada is not a producer of drugs, we are aware that there is a large network of transportation of drugs throughout our country. Canada views opioids as something that can destroy but also help people. Canada recognizes that there are both positive and negative attributes to opioids, but that finding that balance is important to resolving this world crisis.

Canada poses the following questions to the committee: “How can we stop or slow down the production of illegal drugs?” “What are some things we can use or do to try and stop the use of opioids altogether?”

Seeing as Canada has published acts such as The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, we as a country know that instead of trying to force policies onto our citizens it is a voluntary act just to simply help the wellbeing of our nation’s people. Canada understands that there may are countries who cannot provide funding or cannot convince their drug companies to stop their ways. We propose a potential solution to this in that the UNCCPC creates a regional or global act that is similar to Canada’s Good Samaritan Act. As it would have the same concept as our act of giving people the means to respond correctly to specific issues and become knowledgeable to the ongoing issues. We see many country policies include negative actions such as imprisonment or, in some cases, execution for using drugs. Canada’s stance on this way of dealing with the issue is that we should stay away from negative actions/punishments and have more open minded thinking moving towards positive policies and thus positive outcomes. Canada would be ready to help support this cause as we see that it is currently working in our nation and we would like to help globally.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: China
Delegate Name: Adilyn Petros

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Opioid Crisis
Chile
Adilyn Petros, Forest Hills Northern High School

The persistent, opioid-related drug use in North America are present new challenges not only for those countries, but across the world. Especially now, the pandemic has shown us the importance of expecting and being ready to respond appropriately. It is crucial to explore and update information and technical guidelines to prevent or respond early to an opioid epidemic in the countries of South America. The lack of strong laundering control in some countries has permitted illegal groups to work with immunity. Fragile or missing laundering laws are issues throughout the region.
Currently, visitors are permitted in Chile to bring in 30 daily doses of their prescribed medicine, as long as they bring an order from their doctor. The medication must be announced when entering the country.
Therefore, an updated anti-drug strategy needs to concentrate on finishing corruption through a general plan that contains reinforcing government organization, the encouragement of equality, the reduction of income inequality, and the fortifying of education procedures. Without addressing these systemic difficulties, the use of administration instruments can unwittingly rile complications that compromise democratic actions and confidence in government.
The rise of online trading has added another layer of intricacy to this difficulty. Banned opioids can now be bought online- opioids infiltrating the nation via delivery or global mail have significantly elevated purity quantities than the opioids entering alongside the Southwest frontier. Oftentimes, oblivious customers are unaware of the influence of the consequences they have bought. Documentation implies overdoses happen with the opioid abuser ignorant of the hazards of the used drug.
To prevent the expanding usage of opioids, Chile aims to generate programs that focus on decreasing the demand for opioids, such as expanding efforts — such as educating clinicians on the best exercises for authorizing opioids and pain control — and extending qualifications for security in order to grow admittance to the safe use of opioids. Constructing federal regulations established from global advice on proper usage, involving medical product selection, dosage calculation, and treatment surveillance will also be looked into by the Chilean government.
Chile also encourages training in the safe use of opioid pain-killers. Education is key to enlightening people about the proper use of opioids and when they are necessary. Suggestions for platforms on the website of Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) have been made, which would include online programs with updated information on safeguards and administration for the use of opioids.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: United Arab Emirates
Delegate Name: Allison Edwards

Around the world, 70 percent of drug-related deaths are due to opioids. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), primary opioid use represents 27% to 40% of total substance use, which the UAE aims to lower. The United Arab Emirates has a zero-tolerance policy for recreational drug use and possession without a prescription is a criminal offense. The UAE is committed to lessening opioid use in many different ways, legally, and medically, and lessening the accessibility of these substances.

The UAE is implementing many surgeries regarding opioid use disorders. This can be particularly tough for our nation. Our geographical location is a transporting country for many opioids. Hesham Farouk Elarabi, a consultant at the national rehabilitation center in the UAE is working alongside the World Health Organization Collaborative center on this pervasive issue.
Our nation strongly affirms that familial ties are an essential part of combating the issue of opioids. Treatment centers (such as the Nation Rehabilitation Center), provided familial counseling to lessen the strain that opioids took on families and relatives. We urge countries to adopt this policy.

The National Rehabilitation Center (NRC) was founded in 2002 and provides inpatient and outpatient treatment along with a team of mental health professionals. If those who are struggling with addiction seek help at the NRC, they will not be charged with possession of opioids or illegal drugs on their first offense.

Finally, the UAE has enacted legislation such as coverage of basic healthcare, good samaritan laws, and lessening prison sentences for illicit substances. We urge all countries to make legislation, plant rehabilitation centers, and familial counseling to help eradicate this pervasive and deadly issue.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Logan Wallace

The opioid crisis has had a significant impact on our global climate. Ireland as a whole has felt the effects of this epidemic. With opioids coming across borders and over pharmaceutical counters It is a constant uphill battle. Higher population areas in Ireland have seen higher opioid use as is the same with most of the world. With most of those using being older males, Ireland sees a clear trend in opioid deaths.

Ireland recognizes that the opioid crisis is not just a drug-related problem but also a mental health issue and that the two go hand in hand. The most common type of deliberate self-harm is drug abuse. This disproportionately affects women as compared to men with 72 percent of drug overdoses being women as opposed to 59 percent being men.

So far Ireland has used detoxification therapy to help lessen the grip that opioids have had on Its citizens. This has proven to lead to abstinence from opioids for the majority of people enrolled in the program. Ireland is ready to do what it can to help other countries with this crisis. It has always taken its membership in the UN seriously and remains committed to its promise to promote social and economic development as outlined by the UN charter.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Reem Omran

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Opioid Crisis
Bolivia
Reem Omran
Forest Hills Northern High School
Bolivia is one of several nations in the world that are impacted by the opioid crisis. Bolivia, a landlocked nation in South America, has been battling the opioid issue for a long time. Bolivia is one of the world’s largest producers of coca, the plant used to produce cocaine. For many years, the Bolivian government has faced significant obstacles related to the manufacture and trafficking of cocaine. A large cocaine unauthorized market exists as a result of the demand for the substance in Europe and the United States. Bolivia has made significant advancements in decreasing the production of cocaine, but in the process, a new issue—the production and trafficking of opioids—has emerged.
The opioid crisis in Bolivia has been driven by several factors, including poverty, lack of education, and the availability of opioids. A key contributing aspect to Bolivia’s opioid issue is poverty. Many Bolivians are poor and unable to access even the most basic medical treatment. The opioid issue has been exacerbated by the overprescription of opioid painkillers as a result of a shortage of healthcare services. The lack of education in Bolivia is another element causing the opioid issue. Many Bolivians are unaware of the risks associated with opioid use and are unfamiliar with how to use opioids safely. Because of this, individuals might take more than the recommended dosage, which could result in addiction and overdose. The opioid issue in Bolivia is significantly influenced by the accessibility of opioids. As there is little law enforcement, drug traffickers can easily bring opioids into the country because they are widely available on the illicit market.
The government of Bolivia must adopt a comprehensive strategy to confront the opioid issue. Furthermore, the government has to fund educational initiatives that inform the public about the risks associated with opioid usage and the right approach to handling these drugs. Both healthcare professionals and the general public should be the focus of the educational initiatives. In order to guarantee that patients have access to quality medical care, the government must strengthen its healthcare system. This involves funding pain management clinics and giving healthcare professionals instructions on how to use opioids responsibly. Third, to lessen the availability of opioids on the underground market, the government must improve its law enforcement. This entails strengthening collaboration with neighboring nations, hiring more law enforcement officers, and investing in technology to detect and intercept drug traffickers.
In conclusion, Bolivia’s opioid crisis is a difficult issue that requires a comprehensive solution. To lessen the availability of opioids on the black market, the government must fund education initiatives, improve the healthcare system, and increase law enforcement. The international community, civil society, and the government of Bolivia must all make a sustained effort to address the opioid issue in that country.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Switzerland
Delegate Name: Camille Gerville-Reache

In the past decade, new illicit substances are emerging at six times the amount. Annual seizures of amphetamine stimulants increased by 64 percent, and opioid deaths have increased by 71 percent. This has only been amplified during the pandemic. Recognizing this the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has made strides by implementing a synthetic drug strategy, focusing on international cooperation, identifying threats, scientifically-supported responses, and interventions.

However, through implementing innovative strategies, Switzerland has seen a decrease in annual drug overdose deaths (64%) and opioid-related drug prosecutions (75%). The Heroin-assisted Treatment (HAT) program is largely credited with this shift. Constructed based on scientific trials in the 1990s, the HAT program treats heroin abuse victims (with no demonstrated improvement through other rehabilitative methods) by providing clean, medical heroin. While providing heroin to substance abusers may seem counterintuitive, the results aren’t: along with fewer drug deaths, new cases of opioid use have dropped, and HIV and hepatitis cases (linked to the use of unclean needles) have dropped. Additionally, Switzerland saves tens of thousands with fewer criminal justice proceedings and incarcerations. Participants are able to return to their families, work, and improve their livelihoods.

Switzerland encourages other nations to adopt similar programs to HAT and its four pillars: prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and law enforcement. Switzerland also supports further research on treatments for women and youth (who are often overlooked in clinical trials) and firm punishments on organized drug dealing. Through multilateralism, Switzerland believes that a drug-safe world can be achieved.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Tristan Gerville-Reache

The Opioid Crisis has been pertinent for decades. In the 1980s, the distribution of opioids for non-cancer pains increased significantly; because of this, a genuine problem began with opioid abuse and the overdistribution of opioids. Opioids, being powerful as they are, target opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. They are thus used as a narcotic to temporarily diminish pain. The Republic of Korea has very little distribution of opioids, and we encourage other countries to follow in our lead.

The Republic of Korea possesses few issues regarding opioids. Opioid use in the Republic of Korea increased between 2009 and 2013; but since then, the number of opioids distributed has been steadily decreasing. Of the opioids being distributed in the Republic of Korea, the majority are very weak, and the stronger ones are usually only distributed to in-patients at hospitals.

The Republic of Korea looks favorably upon lessening the distribution of Opioids worldwide. The Korean National Healthcare System (NHS) believes in government-monitored opioid distribution, and careful prescription diagnosis for those who are in need of such a powerful medicine. The Republic of Korea believes in alternate solutions to cure chronic pain and suggests prescribing opioids as a last resort.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Noah Breukink

Country: Australia
Committee: UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Topic: Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis is a global issue that has been declared a public health emergency in many countries, including the United States and Canada. Australia has also experienced a surge in opioid-related deaths, and the government has taken a proactive stance to address the issue.
In 2018, there were 1,123 opioid-related deaths in Australia, an increase of 41% from 2017. The majority of these deaths were due to prescription opioids, with fentanyl-related deaths also increasing. This trend is a cause for concern and has prompted the government to take action.
The Australian government has taken a multi-faceted approach to address the opioid crisis. The first step is to reduce the supply of prescription opioids. The government has implemented a real-time prescription monitoring system that tracks the prescribing and dispensing of opioids. This system helps identify and prevent doctor shopping, where patients obtain prescriptions from multiple doctors, and ensures that opioids are prescribed only when necessary.
The government has also introduced measures to increase public awareness of the dangers of opioids. The Department of Health has developed a national awareness campaign called ‘The Nerve’, which aims to educate the public on the risks of opioid use and encourage them to seek alternative pain management options. Another important aspect of Australia’s approach to the opioid crisis is the provision of treatment services for those struggling with addiction. The government has invested $1.5 billion in addiction treatment services over the next four years. This funding will be used to expand treatment options, including medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation.
Australia has also introduced harm reduction strategies to reduce the risk of overdose. Naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is now available over the counter in some states. The government is also working to increase access to needle and syringe programs and safe injecting facilities to reduce the spread of blood-borne viruses and other health complications associated with injecting drug use.
In addition, the government has established a National Advisory Council on Opioids to provide expert advice and guidance on policy development and implementation. The council is made up of experts in the fields of addiction medicine, public health, and law enforcement, and is responsible for monitoring the impact of government policies and making recommendations for further action. Overall, Australia’s approach to the opioid crisis is comprehensive and evidence-based. By reducing the supply of prescription opioids, increasing public awareness, expanding treatment services, and introducing harm-reduction strategies, the government is taking a proactive stance to address this public health emergency. However, it will take ongoing effort and collaboration between the government, healthcare providers, and the community to effectively address this complex issue.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: United States
Delegate Name: Alexandre Morrison

The United States is one of the nations most severely impacted by the opioid crisis, with drug overdoses becoming the leading cause of death in people 18-45. In 2021, while still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, 80,411 people died by overdose. These people are primarily overdosing on “street drugs” when fentanyl, an extremely powerful opioid, is mixed into heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamines. In the past five years, this has accounted for 75% of overdoses.
The problem is so dire that for the first time in one hundred years, America’s life expectancy rate fell due to the overwhelming amount of opioid-related deaths. The opioid crisis in America has been fueled by doctors overprescribing opioids, pharmaceutical corruption and market manipulation from the OxyContin producer, Purdue, and the illegal drug trafficking of heroin and use of fentanyl to adulterate “street drugs”. With a diverse set of causes and skyrocketing addiction rates, finding solutions to the opioid epidemic is of the highest caliber of importance.
The epidemic is complex and multivarious; there are no “easy fixes” or a single solution to the vast issues in our nation’s ongoing crisis. However, the United States proposes that centralized, standardized, comprehensive legislation is the best way to care for people who are opioid-dependent. National legislation is also essential in enforcing a distinction between medically necessary opioid prescriptions from illegal use, especially when America has stringent punishments for dealers, who can face decades in prison for nonprescription drugs. In creating our laws and policies, we should closely consult with experts, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency, which has authority on drug-related issues. We can use informed guidance to set legal dosing limits that doctors cannot overstep. Experts should also develop guidelines for tapering users off of opioids safely to minimize the risk that they turn to nonprescription alternatives. These policies should be made so that individual patient needs are prioritized and may necessitate expanding insurance coverage for medical opioid-related costs.
For physicians, education on the relationship between opioids, addiction, and chronic pain should be compulsory. Furthermore, since privately owned clinics are the primary source of prescriptions, physicians deemed to be placing financial incentives over patient wellbeing should have their medical license revoked. The United States would also propose more research into practical ways to cope with the crisis through medication-assisted treatments (MAT), alternative therapies and pharmaceuticals for chronic pain, and increasing availability of Naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. These steps become increasingly necessary when new drug-related threats emerge. We must be cognizant of the flaws in the medical system and realize that many drugs being prescribed can turn into the next addictive threat, as production technology increases. Overprescription and drug mixing will remain pertinent issues, and so we should establish a framework to prevent future crises.
Internationally, there is a serious disunity in nations’ efforts to combat drug usage within their populace. Delegate nations should prioritize stopping illegal manufacturing of opioids. As synthetic opioids grow in popularity, exercising precursor control becomes one of the most vital preventative measures countries can take. Since these drugs travel over borders and the problem is not relegated to one part of the world, the United States calls on nations to establish a unified plan. Additionally, we urge countries to cooperate regardless of external conflict in efforts to police the drug trade.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: China
Delegate Name: Alaina Williams

Topic B: Opioid Crisis:
Background:
The opioid crisis has impacted millions around the globe, especially in countries in today’s conference. The United States has had the most deaths due to the opioid crisis. China has played a huge part in the world opioid crisis since Opium dens were so prominent in China. China is ready to work with various countries in committees to find an effective solution to the opioid crisis.

China’s Past Policy/Relation:
The common enemy of mankind is narcotics. Drugs are treated with “zero tolerance” by the Chinese authorities. Drug manufacture, trafficking, and other drug offenses have been fiercely combated. In order to help the world community, including the United States, combat fentanyl abuse, the Chinese side has been extending honest and legally-based cooperation. The Chinese side shares empathy with the American people who are suffering from the opioid crisis. China scheduled six fentanyl compounds and two precursor chemicals in two acts from 2017 to 2018, which was more than the number of types recognized at the time by the UN. Even though there was no widespread usage or obvious risks of fentanyl compounds in China, the Chinese authorities took the lead globally in officially scheduling them as a class on May 1. This is a crucial step in carrying out the two Presidents’ agreement, as well as a gesture of goodwill to allay American citizens’ concerns and do our part to assist the US in combating its opioid issue with an eye toward the overall health, safety, and well-being of humanity. Contrarily, as the primary user and manufacturer of fentanyl.

Proposal:
Currently, the United Nations on drugs and crime has a 5-pillar strategy, which seems effective on the face, but needs to continue to be modified. The delegation from china believes that taking effective measures to combat the issue that would help all countries is the best option, and that should be our primary goal in the committee.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Ethan Hess

The Russian Federation is one of the countries in the world most affected by the opium crisis. The Russian drug issues come from many international sources of drugs, from Afgan heroin and lab-made Chinese drugs to homemade Krokodil. With over 6% of its population being users of injection drugs, Russia is no stranger to the drug crisis the modern world faces and is especially aware that these dangers have been exacerbated by the internet. The majority of Russian drug users get their drugs from dark net sites, getting locations to pick up the stashed drugs from. This digitalization of the drug trade makes cracking down on it even harder. Another major hindrance in Russia’s crusade against drugs is the widespread corruption in its administration. With people ranging from beat cops to high-level administrators working with, or even managing drug trafficking rings. It was corruption like this that caused the dissolution of FSKN and the passing on of its responsibilities to GUKON in 2016.

The Russian Federation also acknowledges the necessity of international cooperation in the fight for an illicit drug-free world. Especially considering the majority of the drugs in Russia come from other nations and the Russian land is far too often used in international smuggling routes. All the United Nations coming together to crack down on the international drug trade has never been more important than it is now, and will only become more of a necessity as more get addicted, and more die each day.

In our upcoming committee, working to prevent drugs from being created, and capturing and destroying those drugs that have been created before they can be introduced into the market is something the Russian Federation hopes to address, both in committee discussion and in resolutions. The Russian Federation hopes to work with fellow delegates on bolstering international strength to crack down on drugs where they are farmed, synthesized, trafficked, and distributed. No single nation could conquer this worldwide crisis, as no one nation’s drug issues are localized. Our drug crises are all intrinsically connected, and to solve this issue, a comprehensive plan is required that encompasses all nations.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Denmark
Delegate Name: Rykken Vivekanand

It is more fitting to call the opioid epidemic a disease than a crisis, seeing how it has spread akin to a deadly virus in the last decades. It is also similar in the way it kills, fast. Opioids are medicinal drugs, given as painkillers. It’s drawn from the opium poppy. Heroin is also drawn from the opium poppy. Opioids have existed for centuries, and have been used in medicine and recreationally, and public health crises related to opioid misuse and addiction have occurred globally, and very often. From here grew the spread of illegal distribution. The rapid increase in the market for synthetic opioids has increased the complexity of stopping illegal production, as these drugs can be produced anywhere. To make it worse, as demand for opioids has increased, users, or sellers, will substitute with tramadol or fentanyl, two incredibly dangerous drugs. Criminal enterprises have arisen around opioid production and trafficking, which makes a crackdown on the opioid trade exceedingly difficult and dangerous. All this to say, Opioids are an ongoing issue, and it will take more than individual countries to end this disease.

Drug-related poisonings in Denmark have shown an increasing trend in the past decade, from 1 497 cases in 2008 to 2 523 in 2017. Since 2010, several take-home naloxone programs to prevent opioid-induced deaths have been implemented in Denmark and are currently covering six municipalities with high levels of drug use. Since their introduction, these programs have trained more than 3 400 people in overdose response and given out more than 3 500 naloxone kits. From 2011-2016, the number was stable at around 183,000 people, but in 2017 consumption fell to around 170,000 people.​ Denmark hopes to continue to decrease the levels of opioid usage and opioid-related deaths. However, in 2019, Denmark had the fifth-highest number of opioid users.

Denmark wants reform, and sooner rather than later. Denmark believes that opioids should be attacked in three separate ways. The first is from the source. There should be a global effort to decrease the production of Opioids. This means that legal opioid factories will be shut down and repurposed, and illegal factories will be found. There should be the formation of a task-agency to find these illegal producers in order to protect our global citizens. The second way is with replacement. Denmark is aware that many countries and regions do not have access to other medical supplies. Denmark, therefore, wishes to create a program to help aid developing countries, and lower-income areas to have access to better supplies. The final way Denmark proposes to decrease opioid-related deaths is to boost addiction-focused help facilities. This way, not only is the future protected, but also those suffering from addiction now.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Malta
Delegate Name: Abby Grocki

The opioid crisis has been a decades long occurring epidemic beginning in the 1990s. Countries around the world have observed the threats and negative effects that are brought forward with the abusive use of these drugs. Opioids are drugs used in pain treatment medications that can derive to morphine, codeine, and heroin. All these are highly addictive and lead to constant misuse and trafficking around the globe. The crisis for the majority, is an out of hand issue in many cases as each national government has limited legal use. In addition to this, opioids can be produced without the need of agriculture thus producing an easier trafficking source from multiple locations. The United Nations must come together keeping in mind the medical need for drugs and what harm it can cause when used in an improper manner.
The Maltese body responsible for any drug-related matters is called the Advisory Board on Drugs and Addiction. The Maltese government, and the drug prevention association have come together and spent approximately 5.5 million on drug reduction activities based on a 2012 report. Other legal matters regarding the opioid drug use in Malta include how the government views drugs and how to handle situations with a crisis like this at hand. Malta does not exactly recognize illegal use of psychotropic and narcotic drugs, but may be used in court as a trafficking intent. If an individual is found in possession of drugs for personal use, they will be tried in front of the Commissioner of Justice. If found guilty, a fine ranging anywhere from 50-125 euros depending on the drug. A second offense would result in a 2 year attendance of the drug offenders rehabilitation board, and failure to comply will result in a 3 month imprisonment. In addition to this, if an individual in Malta is found in possession of one cannabis plant for personal uses, there will be a consequenting mandatory prison term. With all this in mind, Maltas 2020 drug reports showed that 2.60 per 1000 of the population were high risk opioid users. This is a call for action for a crisis that should not be taking place this far into 2023.
Malta would look favorably upon the prevention at the source for the infiltration of opioid usage. To do this, coming from Maltas perspective, drugs originating in Afghanistan are mainly smuggled/ trafficked to this nation via Turkey, North Africa, or Western European countries. Other drugs can be seen to be imported from other nations such as Spain, Italy, and Netherlands due to great geographical accessibility. In addition to this, creating a general awareness of the opioid crisis through schools and public events is one of Malta’s primary focuses. The NGOs Caritas and the OASI Foundation run a range of prevention programs that are beneficial for this goal. Malta does not wish to impose on any other nations national sovereignty, and will expect to find allies in Italy, France, Norway, and Spain. These steps have the potential to create a major impact on the growing issue that is the opioid crisis, and will hopefully bring the epidemic to its end.

Topic: Opioid Crisis
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Vivienne Grzelak

In Japan, the opioid crisis hasn’t hit as hard as it has in many other countries. One of the biggest players in the opioid crisis, OxyContin, was only legalized in 2003 and only sold to those with cancer-related pain. As a result, the opioid epidemic has not hit Japan as hard as it has in many other nations. Only 0.6% of male deaths in japan are opioid-related compared to the United States 16.97% of male deaths are related to opioids. The number of opioid-related deaths is even lower for women, at only 0.37%.

Japan has never really had a massive problem with opioids, as they are a relatively new problem for the nation. Japan is still rather strict about its opioid distribution. The pain reliever, OxyContin, is still rather hard to get, with only a few doctors in the entire country being able to prescribe it. The drug is also only available to those who are in the end stages of cancer or in extreme pain.

The way Japan deals with its opioid problems is by making sure the situations concerning opioids are controlled. This is by taking major precautions and making sure a few extremely well-educated individuals are able to make prescriptions for opioids. In larger countries, the main problem with opioids is that they are far too easy to access. If other countries made an effort to make opioids less accessible and only have specialty doctors be able to prescribe them, then opioid addiction and deaths would go down at a rapid rate.

Position papers for SIMUN 2023 will appear above this line, with the newest being at the top.