Drug Abuse in the Global Village

SAUDI ARABIA

TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE

Extent of Drug Abuse : Heroin, cannabis, amphetamines and sedatives are reported the most abused drugs in Saudi Arabia. No statistics are available as to extent of abuse of each drug, although the total number of drug abusers in 1990, was 3,473 (U.N. 1990).

Abuser Characteristics: All drug abusers in Saudi Arabia are male (U.N. 1990).

Most abusers are reported between 20-40 years of age, labourers and uneducated individuals. About 60 per cent of the abusers are unmarried (U.N. 1988).

Regional Variations: Abuse is more common in cities and towns than villages (U.N. 1988).

Trends: Some increase is reported in the abuse of sedatives. Some decrease is reported in the abuse of amphetamines, and a large decrease is reported in the abuse of heroin and cannabis in 1990 (U.N. 1990). A large decrease in the abuse of all drugs was reported in 1988, which was attributed to a decree sentencing drug traffickers and drug dealers to death (U.N. 1988).

Mode of intake: Heroin is injected and sniffed, cannabis is smoked and amphetamines and sedatives are ingested. No combination between different types of drugs is reported (U.N. 1990).

COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

NATIONAL RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE

National Strategy: The National Committee for Narcotics Control was formed in 1985, with a mandate to inform the population on the dangers of drug abuse (CMO 1989). The General Administration of Narcotics Control (GANC) organizes seminars, courses and lectures for all social groups. GANC also coordinates control measures relating to illicit drug abuse in the work place (CMO 1989).

Drug traffickers and drug dealers are sentenced to the death penalty (U.N. 1988).

ACTION TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL TREATIES**

Treaty adherence: Saudi Arabia is party to the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Primary Prevention: Drug education programmes are offered to students starting from intermediate schools up through universities. These programmes take the form of lectures, seminars and exhibitions. Drug education programmes for the public are also offered within athletic clubs (U.N. 1988).

The media also participates in the campaign against drug abuse (CMO 1989).

Treatment and Rehabilitation: No information reported by 31st December 1993.

SUPPLY REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Arrests, Convictions and types of Offences: No information reported by 31st December 1993.

Seizures: In 1991, almost 2 tonnes of cannabis herb, 1.1 tonnes of cannabis resin (compared to 3.2 tonnes in 1990), 3 kg of cocaine base and salts, 89.5 kg of heroin, 588 kg of khat, almost 29 kg of opium raw and prepared and 652,726 units of stimulants were seized (Other 1990, 1991).

Supply Source of Drugs: No information reported by 31st December 1993.

References and notes

U.N. 1988, 1990. Replies to UNDCP Annual Reports Questionnaire for the years 1988 and 1990.

CMO 1989. Replies to the questionnaire concerning the seven targets of the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control.

Other 1990, 1991. Obtained from one or more seizure reports provided by the Government or from other official sources for the years 1990 and 1991.

** The Legal, Administrative and Other Action Taken to Implement the International Drug Control Treaties section was not available by 15th January 1994.