What’s the solution to the world’s drug problem?
8 years, 11 months ago

What’s the solution to the world’s drug problem?

Al Jazeera  

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the UN is holding a special session on drug policy. Similar moves towards decriminalisation or liberalisation of drug policy are happening in Canada, Mexico and Colombia and have already happened in Uruguay and Portugal. Presenter: Dareen Abughaida Guests: Daniel Wolfe – Director of the International Harm Reduction Development Programme at the Open Society Foundations. Danny Kushlick – Head of External Affairs at the Transform Think-Tank, that campaigns for an end to the drug war. Tariq Zafar – Executive Director of the Nai Zindagi Trust, rights based health and social services for people affected by drug use, HIV and Aids.

Drug Policy  wisdom  director  worlds  whats  solution  world  wartariq  states  problem  drug  policy  zindagi  wolfe  zafar

History of this topic

Letters to The Editor — March 20, 2025
1 week ago

Letters to The Editor — March 20, 2025

The Hindu  

Destruction again The Israeli strikes across Gaza only evokes grief and horror. Deepthika Muraharirao, Hyderabad Kerala and drug abuse While the rise in drug abuse in Kerala is cause for concern, the analysis, “Kerala’s drug menace is widespread and escalating”, presents a misleading picture by relying solely on the number of cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances …

The fight against drugs is urgent
2 years, 3 months ago

The fight against drugs is urgent

Hindustan Times  

In Parliament this week, the government declared an all-out war on drugs with Union home minister Amit Shah linking the proliferation of drug smuggling to terrorism and black money. Speaking in the Lok Sabha in his reply to a debate on the drug menace, Mr Shah took a hardline stance on drugs and said the central government had adopted a …

International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking 2022: Theme, History And Significance
2 years, 9 months ago

International Day Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking 2022: Theme, History And Significance

News 18  

The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, also known as World Drug Day, is conducted by the United Nations. The global event highlights the physical and psychological impact of substance abuse, drug overdose deaths and drug-related humanitarian crises with an aim to eliminate the menace from society. Theme “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises” is the …

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021: Theme, History and Significance
3 years, 9 months ago

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021: Theme, History and Significance

News 18  

Every year on the date of June 26, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed around the world. Better Knowledge for Better Care, the theme for the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020, demonstrated the need to enhance understanding of the global drug problem and how higher awareness largely supports international cooperation in …

Drug abuse amidst pandemic
4 years, 9 months ago

Drug abuse amidst pandemic

The Hindu  

More people are using drugs, and more illicit drugs are available than ever. In the global recession that followed the 2008 financial crisis, drug users sought out cheaper synthetic substances and patterns of use shifted towards injecting drugs, while governments reduced budgets to deal with drug-related problems. While more people use drugs in developed countries than in developing countries, and …

As the global war on drugs fades away, the only people who benefited were drug traffickers
5 years ago

As the global war on drugs fades away, the only people who benefited were drug traffickers

Salon  

America shows signs of emerging from the century-long shadow of drug prohibition, with marijuana leading the way and a psychedelic decriminalization movement rapidly gaining steam. "Dopeworld" author Niko Vorobyov and "Pills, Powder, and Smoke" author Antony Loewenstein both attempt the same feat — a global portrait of the war on drugs — and both reach the same conclusion—that drug prohibition …

Consider decriminalisation to tackle drug death ‘crisis’, say treatment providers in unprecedented plea
5 years, 3 months ago

Consider decriminalisation to tackle drug death ‘crisis’, say treatment providers in unprecedented plea

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The future government has been urged to consider every available …

War on Drugs: Portugal may be winning the battle against drug abuse through decriminalisation
7 years, 5 months ago

War on Drugs: Portugal may be winning the battle against drug abuse through decriminalisation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “You’re not taking too much?” Lopes monitors Portuguese heroin …

United Nations and World Health Organisation call for drugs to be decriminalised
7 years, 8 months ago

United Nations and World Health Organisation call for drugs to be decriminalised

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The United Nations and World Health Organisation have issued a call …

World leaders call for legalisation of drugs
8 years, 4 months ago

World leaders call for legalisation of drugs

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “After years of denouncing the dramatic effects of prohibition …

Fight against drugs cannot be won single-handedly
8 years, 9 months ago

Fight against drugs cannot be won single-handedly

China Daily  

Police guard confiscated cocaine weighing 400.5 kilograms seized in a major crackdown on an international drugtrafficking chain controlled by Hong Kong residents. Thanks in part to the nation's humiliating memories of what opium inflicted upon it, the government's vigilance against drugs and drug-related crimes never ceases. Public security departments have redoubled their inputs into their anti-drug efforts, especially since drug-related …

Mexico, Instead of Denying Crimes Against Humanity, Commit to Drug Policy Alternatives
8 years, 9 months ago

Mexico, Instead of Denying Crimes Against Humanity, Commit to Drug Policy Alternatives

Huff Post  

Soldiers patrol the perimeter of the Altiplano Federal Penitentiary, where drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is imprisoned, in Almoloya de Juarez, on the outskirts of Mexico City, January 10, 2016. Ginnette Riquelme / Reuters Last week, the Open Society Foundations published a ground-breaking report, “Undeniable Atrocities”, which accuses the Mexican government of committing crimes against humanity during Mexico’s Drug …

Hundreds of global figures call for end to disastrous war on drugs
8 years, 11 months ago

Hundreds of global figures call for end to disastrous war on drugs

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy World leaders gathering in New …

Ahead Of A Key Meeting, Russia Is Driving Global Drug Policy Into The Ground
8 years, 11 months ago

Ahead Of A Key Meeting, Russia Is Driving Global Drug Policy Into The Ground

Huff Post  

Russian drug policy places a strong emphasis on criminalization instead of a health approach. The Russian Federation pushed back against the medical use of painkillers for palliative care, against needle exchange, against educating doctors or the public about opioids, against the use of Naloxone -- an overdose reversal drug -- in any setting outside a medical facility, against the entire …

Obama Has A Perfect Chance To Push Bold Reform Of Global Drug Policy
9 years ago

Obama Has A Perfect Chance To Push Bold Reform Of Global Drug Policy

Huff Post  

"It's time to talk about alternatives," said one reformer. In a statement to HuffPost, Mario Moreno Zepeda, spokesman for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, defended the president's domestic and foreign efforts, but didn't comment on the specifics of the letter. "The international community has increasingly focused on public health approaches to drug policy," said Moreno Zepeda. …

Tackling drugs requires harm reduction, not repression
9 years, 1 month ago

Tackling drugs requires harm reduction, not repression

Dutch News  

In April, the United Nations is meeting to discuss the worldwide policy on drugs. Junior health minister Martin van Rijn must be urged to forge a different approach, write Dutch MPs Vera Bergkamp and Marith Volp. Now that the Netherlands holds the presidency of the EU and junior health minister Martin van Rijn will soon attend a special meeting of …

Tackling drugs requires harm reduction, not repression
9 years, 1 month ago

Tackling drugs requires harm reduction, not repression

Dutch News  

In April, the United Nations is meeting to discuss the worldwide policy on drugs. Junior health minister Martin van Rijn must be urged to forge a different approach, write Dutch MPs Vera Bergkamp and Marith Volp. Now that the Netherlands holds the presidency of the EU and junior health minister Martin van Rijn will soon attend a special meeting of …

Drug laws: Iran takes steps towards legalising cannabis
9 years, 4 months ago

Drug laws: Iran takes steps towards legalising cannabis

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After Uruguay courageously legalised the …

The economic case for decriminalising drugs
9 years, 5 months ago

The economic case for decriminalising drugs

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The paper Sir Richard leaked, which …

UN 'shelves report calling for decriminalisation of all drugs after pressure from one government'
9 years, 5 months ago

UN 'shelves report calling for decriminalisation of all drugs after pressure from one government'

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy United Nations officials have called …

UN to call on governments around the world to decriminalise all drugs, says Richard Branson
9 years, 5 months ago

UN to call on governments around the world to decriminalise all drugs, says Richard Branson

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UN may be about to call on the governments …

United Nations 'to urge governments to decriminalise drugs': Richard Branson's claims in full
9 years, 5 months ago

United Nations 'to urge governments to decriminalise drugs': Richard Branson's claims in full

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The United Nations plans to …

Global drugs war a ‘billion-dollar failure’
10 years, 10 months ago

Global drugs war a ‘billion-dollar failure’

Al Jazeera  

The global “war on drugs” has been a catastrophic failure and world leaders must rethink their approach, a group including five Nobel prize-winning economists, Britain’s deputy prime minister and a former US secretary of state has said. “It is time to end the ‘war on drugs’ and massively redirect resources towards effective evidence-based policies undered by rigorous economic analysis,” the …

Is it time to end the global war on drugs?
11 years, 4 months ago

Is it time to end the global war on drugs?

Al Jazeera  

We ask if decriminalisation can help reduce drug abuse and organised crime. The drugs industry is a multi-billion dollar one, driven by violent criminal gangs which has killed hundreds of thousands of people around the world, but is the so-called war on drugs working? “We also appealed for countries to carefully test models of legal regulation as a means to …

Debate: Should the UK follow Washington's example and permit the legalisation of drugs?
12 years, 3 months ago

Debate: Should the UK follow Washington's example and permit the legalisation of drugs?

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The central demand in the MPs' …

Government will not change drugs policy despite critical report
12 years, 3 months ago

Government will not change drugs policy despite critical report

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Government tonight ruled out any shift in drugs policy despite …

Is it time to end America’s ‘war on drugs’?
12 years, 11 months ago

Is it time to end America’s ‘war on drugs’?

Al Jazeera  

With demand for drugs increasing and drug-related violence worsening, we ask if it is time to reassess drug policies. They do more trade amongst their neighbours than they did before, they’ve less dependence on United States’ economies and they’re more independent from a financial aid perspective … so given that they’ve greater independence, they’re saying we need to take this …

潘基文在2011禁止药物滥用和非法贩运国际日致辞
13 years, 8 months ago

潘基文在2011禁止药物滥用和非法贩运国际日致辞

China Daily  

Secretary-General's Message on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 禁止药物滥用和非法贩运国际日致辞 New York, 26 June 2011 2011年6月26日 纽约 Drug trafficking, once viewed largely as a social and criminal problem, has transformed in recent years into a major threat to the health and security of people and regions. In this way, the United Nations can integrate the fight against …

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