International drug treaties: The connexion between ratification and social and economic conditions

Abstract

This study examines social and economic conditions in 152 countries and relates them to ratification of the two major international drug control treaties, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The findings show that: (i) countries which ratified only the Single Convention had the greatest drug problems; (ii) ratifications were more common among developed countries than developing ones; (iii) ratifications were not more common among larger countries or those having higher expenditures on health and education, but they were more common among older U.N. member countries and those having ratified more nondrug treaties; (iv) the best predictors of ratifications were a high level of life expectancy, a high degree of economic development and a substantial drug problem. The trend has been for more countries to ratify these treaties over time. However, a shorter-term solution would involve international support for those poorer countries which have not yet ratified them. Technical advice in the form of legal experts and translators is one example of such support.