Fight drug evil, Canada urged U.N. says nation should do more

OTTAWA Canada should be doing much more to combat the scourge of drugs,
particularly outside its own borders, a top official with the United
Nations International Drug Control Program says.

``We need to get Canada on board,'' Christian Kornevall, director of
external relations for the drug control program, said yesterday.

``They could be doing much more. Canada has a special standing
internationally, so their input is very important,'' said Kornevall, in
Canada for two days of meetings with officials at Health Canada, the RCMP,
the Canadian International Development Agency and the justice and customs
departments.

Right now, Canada contributes about $500,000 (U.S.) a year to the drug
agency's annual budget of $75 million. Kornevall said the Canadian
contribution is much appreciated, but noted that the entire agency budget
is ``peanuts compared to what the world drug trade is worth.''

Kornevall is appealing to Canada to become more involved in U.N. efforts to
control the drug trade around the world.

``When you talk about global issues today, you can't exclude drugs,'' he said.

Kornevall will be urging the Canadian International Development Agency to
become involved in efforts to help farmers who are growing drugs switch to
alternative crops that are profitable.

The drug control program is now working in such places as Afghanistan,
Burma and Thailand on crop substitution, with significant support from the
United States.

Kornevall said one of the most troubling developments in the narcotics
trade stems from an abundance of drugs.

``The oversupply of drugs on the world market is leading to more and more
aggressive marketing and product development to provide drugs that are more
refined and more userfriendly,'' he said.

Kornevall said the agency is also trying to combat increasingly lax
attitudes toward drugs, especially among youth, who are influenced by music
and fashion that seem to encourage drug use.

``Young people in Grades 8 to 10 are the ones who are most interested in
stimulants,'' he said.

``Sadly, drugs are a growth industry and, if Canada doesn't want to get
more involved this year, they will have to join eventually.

``No country is immune.''