Welcome to the second edition of the IDPC Drug Policy Guide. The Guide brings together global evidence and examples of best practice to provide guidance on the review, design and implementation of national drug policies.

This short paper summarises the five fundamental principles for effective drug policies that have been developed and agreed by IDPC members through research, analysis and debate over the last two years.

This briefing paper provides an overview of drug consumption rooms from around the world, as well as information on the background, history, objectives and impacts of drug consumption rooms.

This IDPC Advocacy Note offers a set of recommendations based on global evidence to guide policy makers in adopting the new AU Plan of Action on Drug Control.

This briefing highlights the effects of drug policy on women as producers, suppliers and consumers of drugs in order to inform and guide policy makers on practices that should be avoided, as well as highlight those policies which effectively incorporate and address women’s needs.

Focused deterrence strategies seek to minimise the most pernicious behaviour of criminal groups (such as violence) while tolerating less harmful activities.

This briefing paper describes the current state of drug policy and harm reduction services in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, and analyses the barriers and opportunities to improve access to services in these four countries.

The trends and developments report presents a top-level overview of the drug phenomenon in Europe, covering drug supply, use and public health problems as well as drug policy and responses.

The member states of the OAS gathered in Antigua, Guatemala, adopted the Declaration of Antigua Guatemala that encourages the consideration of new approaches to the world drug problem in the Americas.

The coming onto the market of products called “legal highs” is no accident. It corresponds to an evolution in the drug using community.

The prices of illegal drugs have declined while their purity has increased over the past twenty years.

This book establishes a framework for care for women during and after the birth of their baby.

This article points out the lack of research around the UN Single Convention on cannabis policies.

The seminar focused on the unique role parliamentarians, as legislators and opinion leaders, could play on drug policy reform.

This paper intends to support the discussions of the high-level review by presenting global trends on the evolution of the drug problem since the adoption of the Plan of Action and by making some reflections on the way forward.

This paper provides a practical and widely applicable definition of risk and harm reduction.

This report to the UN General Assembly highlights the abuse of people living with HIV, PWUD, women, sex workers and LGBT in detention.

The changing rhetoric from UNODC – of flexibility and health-based policies – is very much welcomed, but the debate needs clearer legal analysis and more extensive normative guidance than the document currently provides.

This INCB annual report serves as a “stock-taking” of achievements made, challenges faced and additional efforts required for the future.

This is the fourth revised Plan of Action developed by the AU in response to emerging challenges associated with drug control.