Around the World: United Nations

'Legal' drugs called threat

Abuse of prescription drugs is growing rapidly around the world, with more people abusing legal narcotics than heroin, cocaine and ecstasy combined, the United Nations global drugs watchdog said yesterday. The International Narcotics Control Board also pointed to a rise in the use of so-called "date rape drugs", as sexual abusers try to get around more rigorous controls with substances not banned by international drugs laws.

In the United States, abuse of prescription drugs "is now the second most important drug abuse issue after cannabis," it said, with 6.2 million people hooked on them in 2008.