In 1972, a protocol was adopted to amend the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, strengthening the enforcement powers of the International Narcotics Control Board and increasing emphasis on the prevention of drug abuse and the treatment of addicts. This amendment, signed in Geneva, reflects the evolving international approach to drug control, balancing enforcement with public health concerns.

The 1972 Protocol is part of the ongoing international legal framework for drug control, a subject that has been debated in literary and academic circles. The protocol's focus on treatment and prevention has influenced public discourse, providing a counter-narrative to purely punitive approaches, a theme that appears in the works of writers and poets advocating for harm reduction and human rights.