IRELAND’S record in combating drug trafficking and involving communities in drug education and treatment programmes has been praised by a UN body.

COCAINE traffickers have opened a new distribution route to Western Europe through Eastern Europe, a UN report has revealed.

Date-rape drugs are still too easily available around the world and countries need to clamp down on them, a watchdog said yesterday.

LETTING celebrities get away with drug crimes is sending out the wrong message to “impressionable” young people, a United Nations report warned yesterday.

THE global supply of cocaine remains unchanged despite massive eradication programmes, a UN report has found.

THE United Nations is “particularly worried” about a massive increase in cocaine trafficking through a new trade route, which is being used to flood Europe with the drug.

Abuse of prescription drugs is about to exceed the use of illicit street narcotics worldwide, according to a UN global watchdog.

The fight against the global €28 billion illegal medicines racket is being waged every day at Irish borders and delivery depots, but is set to escalate further, writes Paul Kelly.

Patients turning to the internet to get cheap drugs can get almost anything they want, with no questions asked. Paul Kelly finds out just how easy it is to get round the law.

WEST AFRICAN gangs have developed a new cocaine trafficking route into Europe, according to a UN drugs watchdog.

Minister of State Noel Ahern would not oppose injecting rooms for heroin addicts but would question their location, says Cormac O’Keeffe.

IRELAND faces a flood of cheap heroin following two years of bumper crops of opium poppy in Afghanistan, according to a UN report.

A UNITED NATIONS watchdog has reprimanded the Government for even considering the possibility of allowing addicts to legally take heroin in special centres on a trial basis.