Letters to The Editor — March 20, 2025
3 days, 6 hours 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 Act. Unlike other States, where recreational drug use is often overlooked, Kerala has a far lower tolerance for substance abuse, leading to stricter enforcement. The core issue here is the framing of the State’s drug menace primarily as a law and order problem, rather than a public health crisis. Kerala ranks low in drug trafficking, but there is no explanation why the State still registers so many cases under the NDPS Act.

Law Enforcement Kerala Abuse Cases Drug Abuse State Drug  cases  letters  abuse  kerala  registered  number  drug  20  ndps  editor  increase  2025  law  enforcement

History of this topic

Drug laws are failing us: Three in four police say possession policies are ineffective in preventing crime and deaths
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Drug laws are failing us: Three in four police say possession policies are ineffective in preventing crime and deaths

Daily Mail  

Three-quarters of police say that drug laws are failing to stem a rising tide of crime and a spiralling death toll, a powerful report has found. Polling by the Centre for Social Justice found that 74 per cent of police think current drug possession policies are ineffective, and two-thirds say cannabis has effectively been decriminalised. Legalising cannabis in the UK …

Opinion: The real reason why Oregon recriminalizing drugs is a cautionary tale
10 months, 1 week ago

Opinion: The real reason why Oregon recriminalizing drugs is a cautionary tale

LA Times  

A woman enters the Great Circle drug treatment center in Salem, Ore., in 2022, two years after Oregonians voted to decriminalize drugs and dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars to treatment. But increasing homelessness and visible drug use have spurred panic over drugs, which overruled statistics and scientific recommendations — and offers a cautionary tale about the fight for sensible …

Canada Moves to Decriminalize Possession of ‘Hard’ Drugs
2 years, 9 months ago

Canada Moves to Decriminalize Possession of ‘Hard’ Drugs

Wired  

On Tuesday, May 31, the Canadian government made a ruling that was the first of its kind for the country. “This is long overdue,” says Daniel Werb, director of the Center on Drug Policy Evaluation at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. “The record is clear that the global war on drugs has been a total catastrophic policy failure,” says Ben …

Making a case for decriminalisation
3 years, 3 months ago

Making a case for decriminalisation

The Hindu  

The story so far: In the backdrop of several high-profile cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, the Central Government recently convened an inter-departmental meeting to re-evaluate it. As per reports emerging from the meeting, the Central Government, based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, is considering amending the NDPS Act to decriminalise …

‘Societal discussion' on drugs decriminalisation needed amid surge in opioid deaths, Canada's health chief says
4 years, 6 months ago

‘Societal discussion' on drugs decriminalisation needed amid surge in opioid deaths, Canada's health chief says

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Canada’s chief health officer …

'Despite Stringent Provisions, NDPS Cases Increasing': Orissa HC Bats For 'No Tolerance' Approach [Read Order]
4 years, 6 months ago

'Despite Stringent Provisions, NDPS Cases Increasing': Orissa HC Bats For 'No Tolerance' Approach [Read Order]

Live Law  

The Orissa High Court observed that the NDPS cases should always be dealt with stricter approach of 'No Tolerance'. The Judge observed that despite strict provisions, the recorded crime rate under the NDPS Act has increased in the country more during the last ten years. The Court added that the cost of drug abuse is enormous and multifaceted which poses …

Drug addiction: A different approach
6 years, 5 months ago

Drug addiction: A different approach

The Hindu  

THE debate on the pitfalls of incarcerating drug addicts is an old one, and a recent study has made a strong pitch for the decriminalisation of drug use. The study “From Addict to Convict: The Working of the NDPS Act in Punjab”, done by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, advocates the removal of criminal penalties for drug use and …

Cannabis criminalization today worse than 1930s "reefer madness"
7 years, 1 month ago

Cannabis criminalization today worse than 1930s "reefer madness"

Salon  

In the 1930s, parents across the U.S. were panicked. Ansligner’s campaign demonized marijuana as a dangerous drug, playing on the racist attitudes of white Americans in the early 20th century and stoking fears of marijuana as an “assassin of youth.” Over the decades, there’s been a general trend toward greater social acceptance of marijuana by a more educated society, seeing …

Norway’s Parliament Votes To Decriminalize All Drug Use
7 years, 3 months ago

Norway’s Parliament Votes To Decriminalize All Drug Use

Huff Post  

The Norwegian Parliament, also known as the Storting, has started the process to decriminalize drug use and emphasize treatment options. Fredrik Bjerknes/Bloomberg via Getty Images Norway’s Parliament is set to decriminalize illicit drugs and divert people found with small quantities into treatment options rather than pursuing criminal prosecution. Instead of fining or jailing drug users found with small quantities of …

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 …

We are a long way from an informed debate on drugs
7 years, 7 months ago

We are a long way from an informed debate on 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. According to the Office for National …

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 …

In Portugal, Drug Use Is Treated As A Medical Issue, Not A Crime
7 years, 11 months ago

In Portugal, Drug Use Is Treated As A Medical Issue, Not A Crime

NPR  

In Portugal, Drug Use Is Treated As A Medical Issue, Not A Crime Gandelina Damião, 78, is permanently hunched, carrying her sorrow. So people came home from war with some habits," says João Goulão, Portugal's drug czar. It was one of the worst drug epidemics in the world, and it prompted Portugal's government to take a novel approach: It decriminalized …

Portugal: Fifteen years of decriminalised drug policy
8 years, 4 months ago

Portugal: Fifteen years of decriminalised drug policy

Al Jazeera  

Lisbon, Portugal – Under a flyover of concrete, alongside a road full of afternoon commuters, a group of people flock around a van. According to Dr Joao Goulao, head of SICAD, the drug intervention branch of the Portugal’s health ministry, in 1999 a staggering one percent of the population was addicted to heroin – one in every 100 people, whereas, …

Major rights groups: Decriminalize use of all illicit drugs
8 years, 5 months ago

Major rights groups: Decriminalize use of all illicit drugs

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — As Americans debate the expanding campaign to legalize marijuana, two of the nation’s most prominent human rights organizations are urging a far bolder step — the decriminalization of possession and personal use of all illicit drugs. Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union jointly issued the call Wednesday in a detailed report contending that enforcement …

All 'illegal' drugs should be decriminalised, experts say
8 years, 9 months ago

All 'illegal' drugs should be decriminalised, experts say

Wired  

Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images Two leading public health organisations have called for the personal possession of "all illegal drugs" to be decriminalised. The Royal Society for Public Health and the Faculty of Public Health say that the call "forms part of a wider package of measures aimed at moving UK drugs strategy away from a predominantly criminal justice approach towards one …

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 …

Public health experts: Decriminalize minor drug offenses
8 years, 11 months ago

Public health experts: Decriminalize minor drug offenses

CNN  

Story highlights High incarceration rates and aggressive policing have increased risk of HIV, HCV and opioid overdose, report concludes Experts recommend many drug policy changes, including decriminalizing minor drug offenses Needle exchange programs and opioid substitution therapies are effective, but need to be scaled up CNN — Overdose deaths from prescription opioids such as OxyContin have quadrupled in the United …

Norway to sentence some drug addicts to treatment rather than prison
9 years, 1 month ago

Norway to sentence some drug addicts to treatment rather than prison

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 Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Announcing the expansion of the …

Ireland to 'decriminalise' small amounts of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and cannabis, for personal use
9 years, 4 months ago

Ireland to 'decriminalise' small amounts of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and cannabis, for personal use

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 Ireland will move towards decriminalising …

Portugal decriminalised drugs 14 years ago – and now hardly anyone dies from overdosing
9 years, 9 months ago

Portugal decriminalised drugs 14 years ago – and now hardly anyone dies from overdosing

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. This is arguably a positive development for public health …

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