Calls for a ceasefire in the war on drugs

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Calls for a ceasefire in the war on drugs

2 April 2014

Despite growing acknowledgement that the war on drugs has failed, global consensus on the way forward remains elusive. Nevertheless, some detect a “paradigm shift” among many players at the forefront of the debate.

At a panel discussion in New York on 25 March, hosted by the Open Society Foundation’s (OSF) Global Drug Policy Program, experts from Switzerland and the Czech Republic offered some pointers by showcasing their countries’ successes in adopting harm-reduction approaches that treat drug abuse as a public health problem rather than a crime.

In 2016 the UN General Assembly Special Session is scheduled to adopt a consensus on drug control. As the deadline draws nearer, NGOs and policy groups are intent on broadening the debate and exploring new options on drug policy.

Harm-reduction approaches of some countries that treat drug abuse as a public health problem rather than a crime can be a start to turn down the failed war on drugs.

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  • Open Society Foundations (OSF)
  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

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