Ethiopia_National Drug Control Master Plan 2017

Ethiopia has ratified the international drug control conventions, namely the Single Convention
on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 197 Protocol; The Convention on Psychotropic
Substances of 1971; and the Convention against illicit trafficking on Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances of 1988.
In addition Ethiopia has also ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of
2004 and the Palermo Convention Against Trans-national Organized Crime of 2000.
The United Nations General Assembly Special Session Outcome 2016 Document ‘welcomes
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we note that efforts to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals and to effectively address the world drug problem are
complementary and mutually reinforcing.
The Outcome 2016 document further ‘recognizes that successfully addressing and countering
the world drug problem requires close cooperation and coordination among domestic
authorities at all levels, particularly in the health, education, justice and law enforcement
sectors, taking into account their respective areas of competence under national legislation.
The Sustainable Development Goal 3 ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at
all ages’ specifically targets ‘ Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse
including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol’.
It is in the specific context of the SDGs and UNGASS 2016 that the Government of Ethiopia
has framed the development of its National Drug Control Master Plan 2017-2022.
It is recognized that the use of illicit and licit drugs is increasing in Ethiopia. The main
psychoactive substances used in the country are alcohol, tobacco, khat and cannabis. The use
and injecting use of heroin and its relationship with HIV and Hepatitis B and C has been
documented in the capital city, Addis Ababa in 2015. Bole International Airport in the capital
is part of an international UNODC programme called AIRCOP which focuses on the
suppression of international drug trafficking. A number of hubs exists in the country
regarding drug trafficking.