Relevant links to drug policy
A wide range of information is available on drug policy issues on a number of specialist websites. This is a selection of the most useful websites, ranging from official UN websites to civil society advocacy websites.
UN agencies
- Commission on Narcotic Drugs – The CND is the central policy-making body for the UN drug control system.
- International Narcotics Control Board – The INCB is the independent and quasi-judicial control organ monitoring the implementation of the UN drug control convention.
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC is the UN agency responsible for coordinating international drug control activities.
- United Nations Joint Programme on HIV and AIDS – UNAIDS leads and inspires the world in achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- World Health Organisation – WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the UN system.
Regional governmental bodies
- European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction – The EMCDDA is the European Union specialist agency on drugs issues. It is a research and information institute, and its website has an extensive library of resources on drug use, drug problems, and government policies.
- Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission – CICAD is the Western Hemisphere’s preeminent forum for dealing with the drug problem.
- Cooperation Programme between Latin America and the European Union on Drug Policies – COPOLAD is a cooperation programme aiming at strengthening the bi-regional dialogue between the EU and LAtin America, and contribute to improving the coherence, balance and impact of drug policies in Latin America.
- Association of Southeast Asian Countries – ASEAN is a political and economic organisation of ten countries located in Southeast Asia.
- African Union – The AU is a political union of 54 States in Africa.
Non-governmental organisations
- Global Commission on Drug Policy – The Commission, composed of high-level policy makers, brings to the international level an informed, science-based discussion about humane and effective ways to reduce drug-related harms.
- West Africa Drugs Commission – With the support of leading experts, the Commission analyses the problems of trafficking and dependency in order to deliver policy recommendations.
- Count the Costs – This new campaign calls upon world leaders to quantify the unintended negative consequences of the current drug control regime, and assesses the costs and benefits of alternative approaches.
- Law Enforcement and Harm Reduction Network – LEAHRN provides information on how police and harm reduction services can work together more effectively.
- TalkingDrugs – TalkingDrugs is an online space to share stories and insights to help find better ways to control illicit drugs and prevent them from causing excessive harm.
- Drug War Facts – Drug War Facts offers useful facts, cited from authoritative sources, to inform the drug policy debate.
- Harm Reduction International – HRI (former IHRA) is the leading international NGO promoting policies and practices that reduce the harms from all controlled substances.
- MENAHRA – MENAHRA supports, develops and advocates for harm reduction approaches in the field of drug use, HIV, public health and social exclusion.