International Drug Control: Protecting the Health of the Athlete

Abstract

The international drug conventions continue to provide a flexible framework for addressing the drug problem based on an approach of shared responsibility. Building on the underlying principle of safeguarding the health and welfare of humankind, these treaties have played a significant role in addressing current and emerging threats such as the phenomenon of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and the current opioids crisis, which affect the health both of the athlete and society at large. This chapter charts the evolution of the current international drug control system, the functions of the treaty bodies, the scheduling of substances under the treaties to prevent abuse and the role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in supporting countries to address the interrelated issues of drug and crime in an integrated manner. It illustrates the mutually reinforcing roles of the treaty bodies, UNODC and United Nations member states in progressing from the resolutions and decisions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, through the development of relevant tools, to finding solutions on the ground, all with the aim of protecting human health and welfare.