The 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was held in Vienna, Austria, from March 10–14, 2025. As the primary policy-making body of the United Nations on drug-related matters, the CND plays a pivotal role in shaping global drug policy, overseeing the implementation of international drug control treaties, and responding to emerging challenges in drug demand and supply reduction. The annual session brings together member states, UN agencies, civil society organizations, scientists, and law enforcement bodies to review global drug trends, exchange best practices, and negotiate new policy resolutions.
Key Themes and Resolutions
This year’s CND agenda reflected the complexity of contemporary drug challenges, with resolutions addressing various aspects of drug control, prevention, treatment, law enforcement, and alternative development. Among the key themes discussed were:
- Oversight of the implementation of international drug control conventions and resolutions, ensuring that commitments made in previous sessions translate into action.
- Advancing research and best practices for stimulant use disorders, particularly in response to the rising global prevalence of methamphetamine and other synthetic stimulants.
- Enhancing the safety of law enforcement officials working to dismantle clandestine synthetic drug laboratories, amid increasing concerns about exposure to hazardous chemicals.
- Supporting alternative development initiatives for communities engaged in illicit drug crop cultivation, with a focus on sustainable livelihoods.
- Expanding comprehensive prevention systems targeting children and adolescents, incorporating evidence-based strategies to reduce early substance use.
- Addressing the environmental consequences of illicit drug production, including deforestation, chemical pollution, and other ecological harms associated with synthetic and plant-based drug manufacturing.
As always, member states had the opportunity to propose, debate, and amend resolutions, ensuring that the final texts are adaptable across diverse national legal and policy frameworks. The negotiation process reflected the ongoing challenge of balancing public health, responsive interventions, and law enforcement priorities within international drug policy.
Global Engagement
Beyond the formal resolutions, the CND serves as a crucial forum for reviewing global drug trends, including emerging substances of concern and the evolution of precursor chemicals used in synthetic drug manufacturing. Plenary sessions, high-level discussions, and side events provided platforms for experts from law enforcement, regulatory bodies, public health agencies, and academia to share insights on drug demand reduction (DDR) and drug supply reduction (DSR).
Civil society organizations played a key role in advocating for individual and community-focussed public health-centred approaches to drug policy. Their participation ensured that the perspectives of affected populations were included in the discussions. Meanwhile, bilateral and multilateral meetings facilitated strategic partnerships between countries and organizations with overlapping priorities, fostering opportunities for joint initiatives, technical cooperation, and capacity-building efforts geared towards technical assistance and training to strengthen capabilities of the workforce and policymakers.
Reflections and Next Steps
This year’s CND highlighted the growing complexity of the global drug landscape, from the rise of synthetic drugs and novel psychoactive substances to the ongoing need for comprehensive, best-practice prevention and treatment strategies. The session reinforced the importance of cross-sectoral engagement in addressing drug-related challenges while emphasizing the need for policies grounded in evidence and public health, with a focus on affected individuals and communities.
ISSUP remains committed to advancing these conversations through our platforms and will continue to work alongside national and regional partners to strengthen training, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building efforts for the DDR workforce and policymakers. As drug policies and challenges evolve, ISSUP will ensure that we remain a reliable, up-to-date resource for professionals working in the field of substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support.