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Antonio Maria Costa

Antonio Maria Costa

Antonio Maria Costa is Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
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  • The Agony and Ecstasy of Synthetic Drugs

    Series: Health and Medicine
    2008-10-27
    More than 30 million people use amphetamine, methamphetamine (meth), or ecstasy at least once a year – more than the combined number of those who take cocaine and heroin. And, despite success in combating the problem in the developed world, the speed epidemic is spreading rapidly in developing countries.... read
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  • Medellin Moves to Africa

    Series: Into Africa
    2007-11-19
    West Africa's location and weak states have made the region an ideal route for smuggling drugs from South America to Europe. While the amount of investment needed to fight the problem is minimal, the cost of failing to act will be very high.... read
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  • Coke Is It in Europe

    Series: Human Rights
    2007-02-26
    European leaders need to get serious about Europe’s cocaine problem. The “white lady” is seducing a steadily growing number of Europeans, and remaining in a state of denial will only worsen the consequences. ... read
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  • Afghanistan’s Opium War

    Series: The Asian Century
    2006-11-23
    When NATO leaders meet for their summit in Riga at the end of this month, there will be a ghost at the feast: Afghanistan’s opium. Afghanistan is in danger of falling back into the hands of terrorists, insurgents, and criminals, and the multi-billion-dollar opium trade is at the heart of the country’s malaise. Indeed, NATO’s top general, James Jones, has called drugs the “Achilles heel” of Afghanistan. ... read
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