Resolution 55/3. One hundredth anniversary of the International Opium Convention

Underscoring that the international community, being concerned with the health and welfare of mankind, further recognized the importance of expanding controls to promote adequate availability of internationally controlled licit drugs for medical and scientific purposes while recognizing its duty to combat and prevent their diversion and abuse, including in the following conventions:

(a) The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol,14 in which it is recognized that the medical use of narcotic drugs continues to be indispensable for the relief of pain and suffering and that adequate provision must be made to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs for such purposes, while at the same time limiting such use exclusively to scientific and medicinal purposes;

(b) The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971,15 in which it is recognized that the use of psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes is indispensable and that their availability for such purposes should not be unduly restricted,

Reaffirming the important role entrusted to the International Narcotics Control Board to ensure, in cooperation with Governments, the availability of narcotic drugs for medical and scientific purposes and prevent illicit trafficking in and use of drugs,

4. Affirms that the three international drug control conventions, which are moving towards universal adherence, seek to achieve a balance between ensuring the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under international control for medical and scientific purposes and preventing their diversion and abuse;