UNITED NATIONS -- An international antidrug agency reports that people in North and South America consume large amounts of performance-enhancing drugs and stimulants, commonly called "uppers," while Europeans are the world's top users of so-called downers, or stress-reducing drugs. Those were among the trends discussed in the annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board, an independent panel that oversees U.N. drug-control treaties. The board is responsible for monitoring and promoting the compliance of signatory countries in controlling 116 drugs and 111 psychotropic substances, a category that includes hallucinogens, stimulants and depressants. [continues 348 words]
UNITED NATIONS, June 897President Clinton today urged drug-producing and drug-consuming countries to stop blaming each other for the international narcotics trade and join in a concerted effort to reduce from 190 million the number of people worldwide who use illegal drugs. But in a reminder of the disagreements that trouble even nominal allies in anti-drug efforts, Clinton's call to stop "pointing fingers" was brushed aside by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. He rebuked the United States sharply for allegedly violating his country's laws with an undercover money-laundering operation that has become a major diplomatic dispute between the two neighbors. [continues 870 words]
Mexico Dismisses Clinton Call for End to Criticism UNITED NATIONS, June 8—President Clinton today urged drug-producing and drug-consuming countries to stop blaming each other for the international narcotics trade and join in a concerted effort to reduce from 190 million the number of people worldwide who use illegal drugs. But in a reminder of the disagreements that trouble even nominal allies in anti-drug efforts, Clinton's call to stop "pointing fingers" was brushed aside by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. He rebuked the United States sharply for allegedly violating his country's laws with an undercover money-laundering operation that has become a major diplomatic dispute between the two neighbors. [continues 876 words]
