50 years of Drug Prohibition

In 1961, the United Nations adopted the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to combat actively the production and traffic of illicit drugs. This first treaty was later supplemented with the adoption of two additional conventions in 1971 and 1988. This strengthened the prohibition system notably by targeting people who use drugs.

50 years later, it is time to assess the progress that has been made, as well as analyse the pros and cons of the system. This repressive policy has had many implications; in addition to public health issues in drug using countries, it is the whole international system that has been affected by what has become known as the “war on drugs”. Various leaders of the federal government, academics and representatives of international networks will debate on this matter in order to provide a global overview of the question.

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