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`As problems stemming from drug abuse have been growing at an alarming rate and have had significant adverse effects on public health and general social and economic conditions throughout the world, the UN designated June 26 as the ``International Anti-Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking Day`` in 1987, seeking to stamp out illicit drug use and distribution and to help provide treatment and rehabilitition to drug addicts. Narcotics refer to substances for which a compulsive carving (dependece) is induced with abrupt discontination resulting in withdrawl followed by unbearable physiological and psychological desturbances(abstinence syndrome). Associated with the development of physical dependence is the building of tolerance, i.e.a decreased response to the effocts of the drugs ,which necessitates ever larger doses to achieve the same effect. The abuse of narcotic drugs results in physical and psychological dependence and adverse effects such as brain, liver, and heart damage and / or malfunction. Drug abuse may cause pregnant women to give birth to children with birth defects. Youngsters may suffer impaired personality development caused by emotional disorders as well as damaged brain cells, bone marrow tissue, and kidney functions. Drug abuse also sererely affects the ability to engage in regular tasks, causing difficulty in thinking and concerntrating, and poor judgement which may lead to reckless or life-threatening acts. Drug abuse does not stop posing as a health hazards for individual drug abusers. It also wreaks havoc on societies as a whole as addicts are prone to commit robbery, murder, and other types of criminal activities. In addition to the costs of drug-related crimes, heavy costs are inflicted on national economies by the lost labor force and rapidly rising costs of social welfare programs geared toward coping effiectively with drug abuse problems. The abuse of illicit drugs has reached epidemic proportions, primarily aflicting the young, crossing all social, economic, and national boundaries. With the age of first drug use gradually falling, drug abuse has emerged as primary cause of rising juvenile crime. On the occasion of the ``International Anti-Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking Day``, the Ministry of Information and Communication is issuing a special stamp, hoping that the concerted efforts of those from all walks of life to combat drug abuse will contribute to the building of a happy and sound global society. `