International Narcotics Control Board Criticizes Media,
Urges More Responsible Reporting On Efforts To "Legalize Drugs"

Ed. Note: This article and the one hyperlinked below demonstrate the degree to which the Vienna based UN agency, International Narcotics Control Board, parrots – almost to the point of parody -- the DEA party line in a global prohibitionist propaganda campaign. Notice that their real focus is promoting prohibitionism, not addressing the real problems of substance abuse. They are terrified by the growing dissent. Nonetheless, they get an uncritical, almost reverent hearing in the media. They also demonstrate the greatest advantage that we have: These people are total idiots. Also see
Cannabis Use In Australia Among Highest In The World, Say UN Narks "Concerned About Discussion" On Legalisation International Herald-Tribune

Contact: iht@iht.com

‘Heroin Chic’ Threatens Young

UN Report Assails Pop Culture as Making Drugs Seem Alluring

VIENNA---

February 25, 1998

The United Nations’ anti-narcotics organization said Tuesday that pop stars and popular culture were threatening young people by glamorizing the use of illegal drugs.

In its annual report on global drug abuse the organization, the International Narcotics Control Board, also criticized a decision to award a gold medal at the Winter Olympics to a Canadian snowboarder who tested positive for marijuana.

The board’s chief, Hamid Ghodse, complained at a news conference to introduce the report about how drug use was portrayed in popular culture.

"The fashion industry coined the term ‘heroin chic,’ and certain pop stars have made statements to the effect that the recreational use of drugs is a normal and acceptable part of a person’s lifestyle," Mr. Ghodse said.

While declining to identify specific stars, he referred to a band leader who made positive comments about the manufactured drug Ecstasy and to "a middle-aged member of a rock band who said many of their greatest hits were inspired by cannabis." (Sir Paul McCartney is a "middle-aged member of a rock band." This guy I going to be great at telling the world how to communicate with young people, meaning anyone under the age of 80!)

Paul McCartney said last month that marijuana was the creative force behind the Beatles’ album "Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band."

Mr. Ghodse urged governments to abide by their legal and moral obligation and to counteract the "pro-drug messages of the youth culture to which young people are increasingly exposed."

The 75-page annual report lists drug problems worldwide, and makes recommendations on strategies for fighting abuse around the world.

Mr. Ghodse said the decision not to strip the Olympic snowboarder, Ross Rebagliati, of his medal would serve only to make marijuana more attractive to young people.

"The decision signifies that the use of cannabis is acceptable and normal even for a gold medalist and that is sad," said Mr. Ghodse.

The snowboarder was allowed to keep his medal after he argued before the Court of Arbitration for Sport that a positive test for marijuana in his blood resulted from his inhaling secondhand smoke. The court reinstated the medal because of a legal technicality.

The UN anti-drug chief also criticized the news media, saying they should be more responsible about reporting on efforts to legalize drugs, and assailed companies that he said promoted drugs "subliminally" in their advertising campaigns. He also warned that the Internet had made information about drugs more available.