Topic: 2024-Substance Abuse
Country: Peru
Delegate Name: Margaret Leahy
Country: Peru
Committee: WHO
Topic: Substance Abuse
Delegate: Margaret Leahy
School: Williamston High School
There are about 300 million people who use drugs worldwide. 1 in every 17 people from ages 15 to 64 have used a drug in the past year. This issue is not new, but it is still prevalent as ever. People suffer from addiction every day and combat social stigma surrounding substance abuse. By helping people who struggle with drugs or alcohol the numbers regarding drugs will decrease. Sadly, 75 percent of all high school students have used addictive substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana or cocaine. Not only does drugs and alcohol make people violent or have health issues, but drugs can rip apart important relationships with loved ones. About 46 percent of people have a close friend or family member who is or has been addicted to drugs.
Peru is unfortunately the biggest cultivator of coca plants. This leads to lots of drug trafficking cartels in Lima and throughout South America. Lots of communities near the Amazon get big cash drops from cultivating coca plants. Unfortunately, the limited economic opportunities in Peru makes it difficult to move away from the business. Peru has had some efforts to combat drug trafficking but the issue still persists. Alcohol is also a concern in Peru because of the huge drinking culture. There can be a lot of health issues with excessive drinking like liver disease or cardiovascular conditions. Alcoholics can be very violent leading to domestic violence or fatality from alcohol intoxication. Peru’s government has a sparse amount of rehabilitation centers for alcoholics in rural areas.
Peru and other countries need to be proactive about preventing and monitoring substance abuse. Peru is interested in enhancing border control, combating drug production in rural areas, and targeting criminal organizations. It is important (especially for Peru) to encourage communities to move away from the production of coca and replace it with legal crops like coffee or fruit. Peru is also interested in programs for training farmers and making markets accessible. In addition, Peru would like to strengthen border control with Colombia, Brazil, and Chile to decrease drug trafficking and smuggling. Collaborating with international organizations can help communication flow easier to track drug trade routes. Lastly, deconstructing entire cartels is vital to decreasing substance abuse, rather than just capturing low-level criminals involved in the operation. This eliminates the problem at its source instead of chipping away at the problem gradually. This is essential to ending the use of substance abuse in Peru.
