The end of Prohibition in 1933 was not the end of government efforts to control substance use in America. Almost 40 years later, President Nixon initiated the War on Drugs, the effects of which have been felt acutely in cities such as New York. While these two movements shared the same stated goals; they were also linked with larger issues of class, race, crime, and the use of government to manage citizen behavior. Join two leading scholars to discuss the role of the state in regulating alcohol in the early twentieth century and illegal substances today.

, Director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture


, Professor of History, Harvard University


(moderator), Correspondent and Producer, VICE Media

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

New York prohibitions: Booze, drugs, and the state

In 2001 Portugal implemented a new national strategy on drug harms. The approach was bold: decriminalising the possession of small quantities of drugs for personal use and doubling expenditure on health-led responses to drug prevention, treatment and harm reduction.

We are delighted to have João Castel-Branco Goulão, head of the General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies in Portugal and one of the architects of the 2001 Drug Strategy, present the learning from Portugal’s health-led approach to reducing drug harms.

Attendees will also hear reflections on the implications of this approach for the UK context, with presentations from policy makers and practitioners who have signalled interest in rethinking the UK’s current reliance on criminalisation in response to drug harms.

This is the final event in the European Observatory on Alternatives to Custody project, a European Union funded project for which the Centre is the UK partner. We are grateful to the Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London for co-sponsoring this event.

, head of the General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, Portugal

, Chief Constable for Durham Constabulary

 MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh East until May 2016. Between 2007 and 2014 Kenny was the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Justice.

, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform

: Edmond J Safra Lecture Theatre, Kings College London Strand, London WC2R 2LS United Kingdom

: Phone: 020 7840 6110 Email: info@crimeandjustice.org.uk

Responding to drug harms: Can the UK learn from Portugal?

The 10th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) will be held in Sydney, Australia on 16-18 May, 2016. The conference will be hosted by the Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP) which is part of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), UNSW Australia.

The ISSDP Conference is a unique occasion to present your latest findings to an intellectually engaged, diverse and dedicated scholarly community, and to immerse yourself in the state of the art research across the full spectrum of drug policy research, with the participation of leading international scholars.

In addition to the main conference in Sydney, there are two satellite events, one in Canberra, NSW and one in Auckland, New Zealand.

Present original scientific research on drug policy;

Create opportunities for vigorous discussion and debate about findings and methods;

Provide an environment conducive for networking and the establishment of new collaborations;

Provide a stimulus for delegates to publish their work in journals; and

Inform policy makers about the latest scientific evidence underpinning drug policy.

More details about the conference can be found here.

10th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy

The New Zealand satellite of the 10th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP) will be held in Auckland (Devonport) on 11-12 May, 2016.

‘Regulating drug use: Beyond prohibition and legalisation..’

, will explore innovative regulatory responses to new psychoactive substances (NPS) (‘legal highs’) and cannabis which are in the middle ground between absolute prohibition at the one end and unregulated commercial markets at the other end.

The Auckland satellite will feature international speakers on policy approaches to NPS and cannabis, including early warning drug monitoring systems operating in Europe, legal regimes for cannabis in the United States, cannabis clubs in Europe, and egal regulated markets for NPS in New Zealand.

 - architect of the Psychoactive Substances Act which created the legal regulated market for low risk psychoactive substances in New Zealand

 - University of Maryland, with over 40 years experience of drug policy analysis

- RAND California, who has been heavily involved in the evaluation of legal cannabis regimes in the U.S.

 - Ghent University, who is conducting research on cannabis clubs in Europe

 - Curtin University, who will present on influencing policy change

 - Scientific Director of EMCDDA, on the emergence of NPS and developing an early warning system in Europe

Further speaker announcements will be forthcoming.

The venue is in beautiful Cheltenham in Devonport, which is a 10 minute ferry ride from central Auckland in a particularly scenic part of Auckland, Devonport.

Invitation are now open to submit an abstract for New Zealand satellite of the 10th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP). Click here to submit an abstract or to register.

All submissions are peer reviewed, and decisions will be provided by the 19th of February 2016.

A Panel session (3-4 speakers on the same topic, 1 hour);

10th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP)

To celebrate the launch of the World Hepatitis Day 2016 (WHD) website and materials on 29 April, join the World Hepatitis Alliance on 9 May to learn more about WHD campaign and materials.

You will also hear more about the launch of NOhep, a movement to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, and how you can get involved on WHD. This webinar offers a great opportunity to ask questions and get inspiration for your WHD activities.
A recording will be made available after the session.

World Hepatitis Day 2016 Webinar

Following on from the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) that is due to take place in New York between 19th and 21st April, Canning House is organising its own session in light of what was discussed and also covering areas and issues which were the UN session did not, or were not able, to touch upon.

The panel will look at issues such as the future of drugs policy in region in light of UNGASS outcome; the likely development of further cannabis regimes following Uruguay; the possibility of regulated regimes in cocaine if cannabis goes well; and the also the economic/financial implications of all of these points. For example, would there be a significant effect on the economies Andean countries if cocaine was regulated? What would happen to Mexico’s exports of cannabis if it becomes regulated in California, which could happen very soon?

Furthermore, what are the security implications of legal regulation? Illicit drug trade, particularly through Central America and Mexico, produces heightened security issues connected to drug-trafficking and gang-related violence, arguably exacerbated by the war on drugs.

, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Drug Policy Reform to chair the event, and speakers including 

, Head of External Affairs at Transform Drug Policy, and 

, Executive Director, LSE IDEAS, International Drug Policy Project.

‘After the War on Drugs’ – The impacts of legal regulation in Latin America

Scroobius Pip’s Distraction Pieces Podcast Network Presents:

‘Stop and Search’ – the new drug policy podcast in association with LEAP UK. This is the first live event where we shall record this new monthly show. On this first episode, The Science Within Our Drug Laws, we have:

Robin Ince – ‘Broadcaster’, podcaster, science buff, comedian and all around niche reference maker.

Dr Suzi Gage - Drugs & mental health researcher at MRC IEU Bristol University, Guardian science blogger.

Simon Oxenham – Journalist and blogger, better known as the fantastic Neurobonkers.

With regular 'sit in the corner' pundit, Neil Woods - former undercover drugs detective and now Chairman of LEAP UK.

Hosted by writer, film producer and LEAP UK Executive Director (and now an official podcast chatterer) Jason Reed - 

 is a new monthly podcast which is set to explore the dark recesses of our drug laws. With celebrity guests, journalists, politicians, academics and policy experts, a monthly panel will apprehend drug policy, whilst being stopped and frisked by the pertinent questions of the day. We may even have a Shatner's Bassoon...

Please join us, we need to have a chat about our drug laws!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stop-and-search-the-science-within-our-drug-laws-tickets-24497620041

Stop and Search - The science within our drug laws

The fifty-ninth regular session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) will be held in Washington D.C., on April 25 and 26, 2016, in the Ruben Dario Room, (8 th floor) at the General Services Building (GSB) of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States located at 1889 F Street N.W., Washington D.C., 20006.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

59th Regular Session of CICAD

A major priority of the 70th President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mogens Lykketoft is to support prompt and inclusive implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It builds on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeks to address their unfinished business. The 2030 Agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda complements and is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted in December 2015 in Paris and will be signed in New York on 22 April 2016.

Given the broader framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its strong interlinkages with the Climate Agreement, the President will convene a High Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on 21 April 2016.

This event will serve to significantly increase international awareness and political momentum around the implementation of the SDGs. It will bring together global political, business and civil society leaders in New York to focus on kick-starting SDG implementation. It will also be a unique opportunity to address the synergy between the COP21 outcome and the 2030 Agenda. Leaders will be offered a platform to catalyse action, discuss concrete steps forward and mobilize potential implementation partners.

Registration is now open for all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia from the following categories:
• Non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
• Organizations accredited to the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015
• Organizations accredited to the Financing for Development (FfD) process

Applications for general registration were accepted from 1 February - 28 March 2016.

Please, click here for any further information.

High-level thematic debate on achieving the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

By Vivario and Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies

WAR ON DRUGS: A discussion on innovative Brazilian experiences.

Organised by Viva Rio, the event will discuss the Brazilian drug policy landscape. Experiences in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo will be highlighted.

 - Deputy Mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro

 - Secretary of Social Assistance of the city of Sao Paulo

 - National Secretary of Drug Policy (SENAD)

 - Professor Emeritus, Columbia University

Viva Rio at Columbia University

UNGASS event - A call for leadership: HIV, human rights and harm reduction

The ‘General Assembly’ is the principle policy-making organ of the United Nations (UN), and the only one in which all 193 UN member states have equal representation. At the request of member states, it convenes UN General Assembly Special Sessions (UNGASS) on specific issues. There was an UNGASS on drugs in 1998 at which member states agreed on a 

Political Declaration on Global Drug Control

. Ten years later, member states met in Vienna to discuss progress made and to agree on a new 

 on International Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem.

The next UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) was due to be held in 2019 – the target date set out in the 

2009 Political Declaration and Action Plan

 for the achievement of a significant reduction in or the elimination of the demand and supply of drugs. However in September 2012, the presidents of Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico called on the UN to host an international conference on drug policy reform. Subsequently, a provision was included in an 

 – sponsored by Mexico, and co-sponsored by 95 other countries – to bring forward this global drug policy summit meeting to 2016.

The UNGASS on drugs is aimed at providing an objective and open assessment of international drug control. It will be held from 19th to 21st April 2016 in New York.

[infobox text="Read more about the UNGASS and get a detailed timeline of planned events" href="https://idpc.net/policy-advocacy/the-un-general-assembly-special-session-on-drugs-ungass-2016"]

Representatives of NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council who have a valid UN grounds pass DO NOT require a Special Event Pass to access the UN compound on 18, 19 or 20 April 2016. Due to enhanced security procedures, representatives of NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC, including those with a valid UN grounds pass, DO require a Special Event Pass only on 21 April 2016. 

Representatives of NGOS that are not in consultative status with the ECOSOC and who have pre-registered, require a Special Event Pass for the entire period of the UNGASS, 19-21 April 2016. Special Event Passes will be distributed daily. On 19, 20 and 21 April, representatives are requested to collect their Special Event Pass between 8:00 am - 10:00 am at 

801 Second Avenue – ground level (43rd Street)

. UN and Civil Society Task Force Staff will be present each day to distribute your pass for the meeting. Please ensure that you bring along a copy of your confirmation email and valid photo identification. Given the limited capacity of seats in each room, passes between plenary and the round tables will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Representatives are encouraged to attend the many side events taking place during UNGASS. 

All the relevant information about the UNGASS, including the agenda, information for participants, is posted on the official UNGASS website – please check it out regularly as more information becomes available. The final programme of the UNGASS is available here.

We also encourage you to visit the IDPC website:

resources on the UNGASS (including explainers, toolkits and webinars)

latest publications, events and news on the UNGASS

The UNGASS will be webcast live and will later be available in the UN WebTV archive.
To keep up-to-date with all the events happening at and around the UNGASS, download the (unofficial) UNGASS event app, developed by the Museum of Drug Policy, and follow the CND Blog!

The UNGASS will start on Tuesday 19th April with an opening segment, followed by a general debate, that will include statements by the regional groups, member states, observer states, international organisations and NGOs. In parallel, interactive roundtables will be held on the following topics:

: Roundtable 1 on demand reduction and related measures

: Roundtable 2 on supply reduction and related measures

: Roundtable 4 on new challenges, threats and realities

: Roundtable 5 on alternative development.

Each roundtable will include five panellists nominated by the regional groups and one panellist nominated by the Civil Society Task Force, as well as up to two representatives of the UN system. A summary of the roundtables will be drafted by the chairs of each roundtable and presented in plenary.

If you would like to 

 from the floor in any of these roundtables, you are encouraged to inform the General Assembly Affairs Branch by email at poliakova@un.org and muturi@un.org.

UNGASS Agenda: Click to read the programme for the UNGASS

The UNGASS outcome document was negotiated over the past few months, and finalised at the 59h Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna last month – with the objective of adopting the final document at the UNGASS on the morning of Tuesday 19thApril, at the end of the opening segment. IDPC and partners released "Diplomacy or denialism? The language that the UNGASS Outcome Document overlooked" - which highlights just a small selection of the strong, progressive and evidence-based language on issues that are overlooked or insufficiently reflected in the Outcome Document.

For an analysis of the negotiations process and the final iteration of the document, please see:

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the final road to UNGASS 2016: Progress made, but a long way still to go

CND 59 – An effort in self-preservation. A review of the Draft Resolution by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

After CND, what hope remains for drug policy reform at UNGASS?

 will be organised on Monday 18th April from 10:00 to 13:00 in Conference Room 12.

The final programme of side events is available here. IDPC is involved in a series of side events:

Human rights impacts of drug policies (organised by the OHCHR and Penal Reform International, with the participation of IDPC)

Getting better results: Measuring drug policy outcomes within the wider UN system (organised by New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, the Global Drug Policy Observatory, the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy, IDPC and Transform)

Amphetamine-type stimulants: Working towards humane drug policies (organised by Inspire Project Under the Royal Initiative of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand and IDPC)

A call for leadership: HIV, human rights and harm reduction (organised by Germany, Harm Reduction International, UNAIDS, UNODC, WHO, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Open Society Foundations, IDPC, the International AIDS Society and AIDS Fonds)

High-level panel discussion on alternative development and the sustainable development goals (organised by Thailand, with the participation of IDPC)

Events/activities outside of the UN Building

A series of special events, activities, gatherings and demonstrations are set to take place throughout the UNGASS week. For a full list and details of activities, visit the Stop The Harm website:

15-17 April 2016, Washington DC: SSDP2016: Students for Sensible Drug Policy International Conference

17-18 April 2016, New York: Cannabis Science and Policy Summit

18 April 2016, New York: Civil Society Forum

18 April 2016, 12:30, Foley Square, New York: Public Rally for drug policy reform (VOCAL-NY, SSDP, Caravan, Latino Justice, and others.)

18 April 2016, 14:00, United Nations, New York: Families Unite to Tell their Stories Rally (Anyone’s child, Transform, Moms United, and others.)

18 April 2016: 15:30-18:00, Dag Hammarskjold Plaza: UNGASS youth demosntration/SSDP art installation

18 April 2016: 18:00: Interfaith Service of Compassion, Care and Healing at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem

20 April 2016: 18:00: Viva Rio at Columbia University

Additional activities will be organised in the Museum of Drug Policy, a pop-up cultural hub that will include an immersive art experience and special live programming looking at the impact of current drug policies on people around the world - please register online to attend!

The Museum of Drug Policy will include opportunities for people to participate in the Support. Don’t Punish photo project – we hope many of you will join us there!

Press conference: Global Commission on Drug Policy

On Thursday, April 21, 8:30am EST, we invite you to watch a press conference where world leaders call for decriminalization and regulation of drugs during historic UN Special Session. Join former Presidents of Colombia, Mexico, and Switzerland together with Sir Richard Branson, US Former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker and members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy as they call for reducing the harms caused by failed drug policy.
The press conference will be available here via LiveStream.

IDPC will be collaborating with NGO partners to blog live throughout the UNGASS on the CND Blog. The CND Blog is available both in English and Spanish and we encourage you all to visit it regularly! Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, where we will share information about the UNGASS throughout the week. If you are using social media, please use the hashtag #UNGASS2016.

Finally, to support media work around the UNGASS, StopTheHarm has put together a webpage gathering media resources, available here.

To read the contributions of UN agencies, UN member states and NGOs, please visit the UNGASS website. IDPC's contribution is available here.

Past Events