Learn more about the development of the Opening Minds Provider Attitudes Towards Opioid Use Scale (OM-PATOS) and how it can be used to systematically measure the attitudes and helping behaviours of first responders and health-and social-care providers towards people living with opioid use. You'll learn more about how the scale may be used for the purposes of evaluating and assessing the impact of initiatives or programs designed to reduce opioid related stigma, as well as more about the work we have been doing in assessing opioid stigma reduction programs.

This webinar will be presented by Dr. Stephanie Knaak and Jes Beshara. Dr. Knaak, the co-creator of the OM-PATOS, is a Senior Research Consultant at the Mental Health Commission of Canada and international leader in stigma research. She also holds an Assistant Adjunct Professorship in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary and is an associate member of the Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education. Jes Beshara is a Community Harm Reduction Support Navigator at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit in Brockville and a Peer Support Worker at Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres. She is a recent graduate of the Mental Wellness and Addictions Worker program at St. Lawrence College and has over 25 years of lived experience with opioid use.

Measuring stigma related to opioid use

The Global State of Harm Reduction 2020 is the most comprehensive independent analysis on harm reduction policy and practice around the world. This year we found that harm reduction implementation has worsened, after having stalled since 2014. Join our online launch to hear more about what we learnt. The event will feature Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, alongside harm reduction and human rights experts from around the world.

Harm Reduction International (HRI) released the first Global State of Harm Reduction in 2008, a report that mapped responses to drug-related HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis around the world for the very first time. The data gathered for the report provided a critical baseline against which progress could be measured in terms of the international, regional and national recognition of harm reduction in policy and practice. We have continued this global tracking ever since.

Report launch: The Global State of Harm Reduction 2020

'It is essential that we begin a serious discussion on how we regulate stimulants. This book provides a powerful start.'

Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.

Join us on 22nd October at 20:00 (GMT+1) as we lay out the only realistic alternative to prohibition for stimulant drugs - a new and unique contribution to the drug policy debate.

‘How to regulate stimulants: a practical guide’, a groundbreaking new book published by Transform, considers a question which has largely been overlooked so far: how we might regulate stimulant drugs. Stimulants are used by millions of people globally, but remain deeply stigmatised. They produce a wide range of effects and bring a spectrum of risks. In our new book, we outline an alternative approach, providing concrete proposals for the legal regulation of cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines.

In this webinar, we will introduce our proposals for the regulation of stimulants.This is an invitation to everyone concerned with drug policy reform to broaden the debate, and imagine how we might construct a positive future.

Register here.

Book Launch - How to regulate stimulants


- Lisa Sanchez, the Executive Director of México Unido Contra la Delincuencia
- Ray Lakeman, who campaigns with Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control. He lost his two sons on the same night after they took ecstasy of unknown purity and strength
- Gloria Lai, the Asia Regional Director for the International Drug Policy Consortium
- Lorenzo Uribe, Lead Drafter of the Cocaine Regulation Bill currently before the Colombian Senate
- Steve Rolles, Senior Policy Analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation and lead author of 'How to regulate stimulants: a practical guide'

How to regulate stimulants - Book launch

As part of the Feminist Realities Journey, we are inviting you to take part in a series of curated conversations, designed to spark meaningful dialogue and co-creation, among feminist activists and organizations from all over the world.

June Jordan reminded us that “we are the ones we have been waiting for”. Join activists from Southern Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Central and Latin America and the Caribbean in this interactive Curated Conversation as we discuss and strategize ways of using our collective power to challenge criminalization & stigmas.

The activists will share a bit about the important work being done across HIV/AIDS advocacy, resisting drug policy, ensuring sex worker rights and expanding the fight against criminalization. Using examples of freedom-making and transformative solutions, we will discuss how we are resisting and creating in spite of systemic violence and erasure.

We are no longer waiting on anyone else to create the change we deserve; we are the ones that we have been waiting for!

This virtual event will take place on Zoom. Please make sure to check for any Zoom updates on your computer in advance of the Curated Conversation.

The event will have translation in Spanish, English and French but to access the interpretation channels, your Zoom must be updated.

Freeing ourselves: Challenging criminalization & stigmas

Part Four of the webinar series - 'A World with Drugs: Legal Regulation through a Development Lens'.


In this webinar we explore what lessons we can learn from Fair Trade practices when shaping legally regulated drugs markets. How do we make sure we follow in the right footsteps and build a fairer drug trade?

An exciting line-up of speakers will be announced shortly.

This webinar will be in English, we are exploring options for live Spanish translation.

21 October, 16:30-18:00 BST.
London – 16:30-18:00, Bogota – 10:30-12:00, New York, 11:30-13:00, Johannesburg – 17:30-19:00, Delhi – 21:00-22:30.

This webinar is part of a wider series exploring why the socially just legal regulation of drugs is vital for sustainable development. We will explore how drug policies intersect with some of the most pressing issues facing the development sector, and identify how to make sure legally regulated drug markets work for people along the supply chain.

Trade justice and the legal regulation of drugs webinar

Book launch hosted by GSI, University of Geneva and GDPO, Swansea University

Analyzing arguably one of the most contested areas in public policy, this Research Handbook brings together contributions from a variety of researchers and practitioners to provide a global overview of the shifting dynamics of drug policy internationally. Chapters tackle a complex and cross-cutting issue from inter- and multi-disciplinary perspectives, incorporating political science, history, law and public health into their analyses.

Emphasizing connections between the domestic and the international, this event will discuss how the Research Handbook illustrates the intersections between drug policy, human rights obligations and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Integrating detailed discussion of ever-evolving drug markets, a diverse range of policy responses, and political and ideological tensions, the speakers of this event will discuss the regional dynamics of drug control, its historic constructions, and the contemporary and emerging problems it is facing.

Nicolas Levrat, Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva (TBC)

Dave Bewley-Taylor, Professor, Swansea University, co-editor

Caitlin Hughes, Associate Professor, Flinders University, contributor

William McAllister, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University, contributor

Katharine Neill Harris, Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow, Rice University, contributor

Patrick Shortis, PhD Candidate, Manchester University, contributor

Khalid Tinasti, Visiting Fellow, GSI, University of Geneva

Launch of the Research Handbook on International Drug Policy - 20 October 2020

The 3rd CND intersessional meeting for the 63rd session will be held from 

 at the Vienna International Centre, Board Room C. The meetings will be held 

 In light of social distancing requirements as well as possible restrictions on in-person participation at the time of the meeting, the thematic sessions will be held as a virtual or blended (virtual and limited in-person participation) meeting.

Interpretation will not be available during the meetings. The meeting will be webcast.

As per the workplan agreed upon on 24th June 2019, thematic discussions will take place every autumn during the period between 2019-22, addressing the challenges identified by the taking stock paragraph of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.

Accordingly, on 16-18 october, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs will meet to discuss the following three elements of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration’s “Taking Stock” paragraph:

 Drug treatment and health services continue to fall short of meeting needs and deaths related to drug use have increased; and the rate of transmission of HIV, the hepatitis C virus and other blood-borne diseases associated with drug use, including injecting drug use in some countries, remains high (19 October 2020)

 The adverse health consequences of and risks associated with new psychoactive substances have reached alarming levels (20 October 2020)

 The availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, including for the relief of pain and palliative care, remains low to non-existent in many parts of the world (21 October 2020).

For each thematic segment up to 5 NGOs will have the possibility to present their work and positioning

. In order to ensure an inclusive, comprehensive and meaningful civil society participation, NGOs will work through the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) which has been requested to coordinate contributions.

Each speaker will have 3-5 minutes to present his or her work on the thematic focus of the day.

Selected speakers will be asked to send in their statements or videos (including. Transcripts) no later than 12 OCTOBER 2020.

 Interpretation will not be available during the meetings

 and all abstracts and statements have to be submitted in English.

I

n order to apply for a speaking slot, please fill out the google form by 25 SEPTEMBER 2020 at 11:55 p.m. (CEST, Vienna local time):

 https://bit.ly/CfA-CND-Intersessionals-2020
The VNGOC will follow the guidelines established by the Civil Society Task Force (CSTF) in 2018: http://vngoc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CSTF-Speaker-Selection-Guidelines-final-formatted.pdf

Selected candidates will be notified as soon as possible but no later than 30 SEPTEMBER 2020.

In light of social distancing requirements as well as possible restrictions on in-person participation at the time of the meeting,

 the thematic sessions will be held as a virtual or blended (virtual and limited in-person participation) meeting. 

We will keep you updated on any new information on the meeting logistics.

3rd CND intersessional meeting 2020

ONLINE SIDE EVENT - Ahead of the thematic discussions at the 3rd intersessional meeting for the 63rd Session of the CND | 

Co-sponsored by Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNODC, WHO, Frontline AIDS, HRI, IDPC, INPUD, OSF

Thursday, 15th October 2020, 15:15 - 16:45 (CET)


(Microsoft Teams link will be sent upon registration)

This event will provide context and perspectives on global harm reduction developments linking strongly to the health-related focus of the upcoming CND intersessional topics.

The current context of the global COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges to ensuring the health and rights of people who use drugs, and as such brings an extra imperative and urgency to the discussion.

Relevant global developments will also be highlighted, including the development of the Global AIDS Strategy and plans for the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on ending AIDS and the next Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS in 2021.

Panellists will also discuss the need to scale up community-led services, the current funding crisis for HIV, viral hepatitis and harm reduction programmes around the world and initiatives to address stigma & discrimination faced by people who use drugs.

 Permanent Representative of Norway to the UN and IAEA in Vienna

 Director a.i. of the Community Support, Social Justice, and Inclusion Department, UNAIDS

 Executive Director, Rumah Cemara, Indonesia

 Programme Manager: Drug Use & Harm Reduction, Alliance India

 Chair, Centre for Humane Policy, Bulgaria

 Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group to the UN on HIV & Drug Use

The role of harm reduction in a comprehensive approach to drugs 


István Gábor Takács and Péter Sárosi have been making films to promote humane drug policies and harm reduction since 2007. While working at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, they started out with a handycam and a microphone to record conferences and interviews with experts in the field. Their online videos became popular educational and mobilisation tools, and throughout the years they were invited to film all around the world about best practices of drug policy, to support activist with videos and to debunk the drug war.

In 2016 they founded a new organisation, the Rights Reporter Foundation, where they continued their international filmmaking work as well. They document the major international drug policy events, at the United Nations and at conferences, they produce short informational videos and full length documentaries, for which they received multiple awards. They train fellow activists in media communication and video advocacy, and maintain and support a network of videographers who are working to promote human rights, harm reduction and sane drug policies. In this presentation István Gábor Takács, video manager of the RRF tells the story of their work, and shows examples of how they used video as an effective advocacy and educational tool to advance drug policy reform around the world.

check out their work here : https://drogriporter.hu/en/
and here : https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/

Video advocacy for drug policy reform

9th International Conference on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users

Given the ongoing impact of COVID-19, INHSU has made the difficult decision to postpone our annual conference. This means that we will hold our next major conference in Glasgow in the later part of 2021. We are working to secure dates and will provide an update as soon as these are confirmed.

Given the ongoing uncertainty regarding the progression of the pandemic, the disruption to travel and the impact on economies around the world, we believe the most appropriate course of action is to delay the conference until next year.

While we are unable to deliver a major conference in October, we do recognise that there will be a need for us to continue to connect to share our learnings, exchange knowledge and nurture professional relationships. As such, we will be creating opportunities for us to come together virtually and participate in a range of activities and events. We look forward to sharing our plans and inviting you to be part of these. We will continue to communicate with our network as these opportunities emerge.

Through this time, our thoughts remain with the patients, healthcare professionals, researchers and others who are responding directly to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A full copy of our statement regarding postponing the conference can be found here.

Any major updates will be provided to people who are on the Conference mailing list. Click here to join

Update October 2020 - Announcing hybrid multi-site conference

As many will know, the 9th International Conference on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users was due to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in October 2020.

Like many others across the world, we have been monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely.

The health and safety of our delegates is our upmost priority, and it is with this in mind that we have decided to change the format of our event, which means we are no longer exploring one single event in Glasgow.

Instead, we plan to hold smaller conference hubs in three locations across the world, supported by a virtual element for those unable to travel. This hybrid format will allow us to bring together as many people as possible to learn from one another to continue to improve the health of people who use drugs. With travel restrictions ever-changing, these locations will be announced closer to the time. And – if needed – we will drop down to one location.

Although we are disappointed not to be holding our traditional conference next year, we feel that it is important to not skip another year of scientific exchange and knowledge dissemination. This new format will deliver the same high-quality speakers, presentations, and plenary sessions that you have come to expect from an INHSU conference.

We understand that what makes the INHSU conference so valuable is the ability to meet a diverse selection of people who share the same passion for improving the health of people who use drugs. Innovation is at the heart of INHSU and we will monitor the global situation closely, to, with your help, create an event that delivers the best knowledge exchange and networking opportunities possible.

9th International Conference on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users (INSHU 2020) [POSTPONED]

The 2nd CND intersessional meeting for the 63rd session will be held on 8 October at the Vienna International Centre. The meeting will consider the WHO's recommendations on the rescheduling of cannabis and related products.

Please click on the following link to watch the event live:
Webcast Second Intersessional Meeting of the CND in its 63rd Session

The provisional agenda for the intersessional meeting is as follows:

Opening by the Chair and adoption of the agenda

Recapitulation of the topical meetings - procedural summary by the Chair

Statements by Member States /National Statements

Statements by stakeholders on the scheduling recommendations

Next steps – voting procedure during the reconvened session

Any Other Business and Closing by the Chair

GUIDANCE FOR PARTICIPANTS OF MEETINGS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE

VIC MEETING GUIDELINES: COVID-19, Guidance for participants of meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past few months, member states and their delegations have been taking part in a series of informal (closed) “topical meetings” online to further discuss each of the WHO recommendations in turn – ahead of the planned vote on these recommendations in December 2020. To compensate for these discussions being closed, they are accompanied by a formal, open “intersessional” meeting on 8th October – which will be a mix of in-person participation in Vienna, and online participation via Microsoft Teams and a web-cast.

VNGOC has been invited to select five NGO representatives to make formal interventions at this meeting (either in person, or remotely) – to provide inputs, evidence and arguments related to the WHO recommendations on cannabis and related substances. We will do so using the usual open call for speakers – please see below for details. Participant numbers will be limited in the UN building in Vienna due to COVID-19, so please contact us for more information if you are interested in attending this meeting in person.