It highlighted the need for treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts,[1] instructing parties to take "all practicable measures for the prevention of abuse of psychotropic substances and for the early identification, treatment, education, after-care, rehabilitation, and social reintegration of the persons involved".
The Protocol also adds a provision to Article 22 stating that "A Party prohibiting cultivation of the opium poppy or the cannabis plant shall take appropriate measures to seize any plants illicitly cultivated and destroy them, except for small quantities required by the Party for scientific and research purposes".
[5] The effect of this amendment is to require nations to actually enforce the laws on their books against cultivation of illicit drugs.
The Protocol adds a provision to Article 36 allowing for "treatment, education, after-care, rehabilitation and social reintegration" as an alternative to incarceration of drug abusers.
[6] A Commentary to the Protocol was written by Adolf Lande, former Secretary of the Permanent Central Narcotics Board and Drug Supervisory Body, under the responsibility of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs.