LONDON , England -- Cocaine-abusing celebrities are glamorizing the use of narcotics and encouraging more young people to use illegal substances , the United Nations drug control agency has warned . Model Kate Moss faced allegations of cocaine use in 2005 but was never charged for over the claims . The annual report from the International Narcotics Control Board warns that treating stars `` leniently '' by allowing them to get away with drug crimes undermines faith in the criminal justice system and has a damaging effect on adolescents . `` They get more lenient responses by the judiciary and law enforcement , and that is regrettable , '' Professor Hamid Ghodse , a member of the INCB , told the UK 's Press Association Wednesday . `` There should not be any difference between a celebrity who is breaking the law and non-celebrities . `` Not only does it give the wrong messages to young people , who are quite impressionable , but the wider public becomes cynical about the responses to drug offenders , '' Ghodse said . Watch Ghodse explain how celebrity offenders are being given an easy ride » . Last month , acclaimed singer Amy Winehouse was questioned by police after a video emerged which appeared to show her smoking crack . Last fall she was arrested and fined in Norway for possessing marijuana . Winehouse was due to appear in a Norwegian courtroom to contest the drug charges at the end of February . The hearing was postponed indefinitely , PA said , after the court approved a request from Winehouse 's lawyer . Watch how celebrity drug scandals affect children » . Supermodel Kate Moss also faced cocaine-snorting allegations in 2005 . The Crown Prosecution Service later said she would not be charged over the claims . Despite losing modeling contracts in the wake of the revelations , she later won fresh jobs and remains one of the world 's top models . Singer Pete Doherty , the former boyfriend of Moss , also has had a well-publicized drug abuse problem but has so far managed to avoid jail time . Earlier this month he was named by music magazine NME as its Hero of the Year . And Paul McCartney and his late wife Linda were open about their marijuana habit . The former Beatle was arrested for possession in 1980 in Japan . After 10 days in jail , he was released without charges . The report found that Britain , along with Spain and Italy , have some of the highest rates of cocaine abuse in the world . The report also expressed concerns on rising opium production in Afghanistan . E-mail to a friend .
Report says celebrity drug use encourages adolescent substance abuse . Report says violence towards celebrities affects criminal justice system . Report finds Britain , Italy , Spain have among highest rates of drug use .