UN CLAIMS VICTORY IN DRUG WAR AS HEROIN DEMAND FALLS

The UN claimed yesterday that it was winning the war against drugs, saying
in its 'World Drug Report 2000' that global production of cocaine and heroin
is falling for the first time in recent years.

But behind this apparent success story lies a less rosy reality: heroin and
cocaine production is falling because a generation of young drug users is
turning to ecstasy and other synthetic drugs. World production of opium,
from which heroin is refined, fell at least 17pc last year, the UN report
says.

Production of cocaine and coca leaves fell by 7pc in 1999 the most recent
data and is now 20pc lower than in 1992-93.

But consumption of ecstasy and other synthetic drugs is rising, said Sandro
Tucci, a spokesman for the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention.

"There is good news and there is bad news," he said.

"Because all the international focus has been on the harder drugs, cocaine
and heroin, we have concentrated on those. But there are still very serious
challenges ahead."

The lower production is due to a fall in demand, Mr Tucci said. "This is
thanks to the reduction demand programmes many countries have put into
practice."

The average age of heroin and cocaine users is rising, reflecting a shift in
demand for other drugs by a younger generation.

Policing by United States agencies has contributed to the fall in cocaine
production, Mr Tucci said.

The production of heroin and cocaine is being isolated in a small number of
countries, with Colombia producing 75pc of cocaine, and Afghanistan and
Burma between them producing 90pc of the opium that is used around the
globe.