This year, the theme of the campaign is 'Value yourself…make healthy choices'.

Various socio-cultural organisations have taken elaborate programmes to observe the day with campaigns against one of the major problems that threaten the fabric of society.

President Iajuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia issued separate messages calling for a combat against drug abuse. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan gave a universal message on the occasion.

Iajuddin said," For transforming the present and future generations into national resources in a developing country like ours we shall have to take realistic steps right now to control drug abuse and illicit trafficking."

Praising the theme of the day as time-befitting and important Khaleda said "Drug problem is not a problem of a single country--it has become a worldwide problem crossing the national boundary."

"Social protest should be strengthened by creating mass awareness for controlling drug abuse and illicit trafficking," she said.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annasn said "On this International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, we celebrate the choice that millions of people around the world have made to live healthily, and we applaud the courage shown by those who have stopped using drugs."

He called upon all to strengthen collective resolve to live in a society free from drugs, and encourage all human beings to make personal choices to lead a healthy life.