INCB President meets Pope Francis to discuss drug control, youth prevention and access to essential medicines

At the end of January 2014, INCB President Raymond Yans and Secretary of the Board Andrés Finguerut visited the Vatican, meeting with His Holiness, Pope Francis, and other officials of the Holy See. Issues highlighted in their discussions included preventing drug use among youth and ensuring access to controlled medicines, for example in Africa and through the Church’s network of health care facilities.

During their meeting, Pope Francis reiterated his opposition to “scourge of drug trafficking” and the legalisation of recreational drug use, saying that:

“[i]t is not with the liberalization of drugs, as is being discussed in various parts of Latin America, that one will be able to reduce the spread and influence of chemical dependency.”

More details of the INCB’s visit to the Vatican can be found at these links:

• http://incb.org/incb/en/news/missions/missions2014/incb-president-visits-the-vatican.html
• http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=20382