Canada needs to give up the war on drugs and start treating drug use as a health and social issue rather than something for the criminal justice system to deal with, according to the Canadaian Drug Policy Coalition.
A dozen Latin American countries issued a joint statement on organised crime and drug trafficking. The statement is a clear acknowledgement of the often unspoken understanding that the war on drugs is fuelling much of the violence and chaos in Latin America.
Medicinal cannabis is now available as a prescription medicine in Sweden after the Medical Products Agency (Läkemedelsverket) approved a cannabis-based mouth spray for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
A legal study is underway at the order of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung to find out whether drug-related convicts on death row could be executed within 60 days after final verdicts have been reached, in an attempt to combat rampant drug dealing.
EHRN is looking for a consultant to develop a training module in the framework of WHO funded project “Developing TB services for people who use drugs”. Please send you CV and short (half page) motivation letter to hub@harm-reduction.org by February 29.
Mexico’s drug war has cost 50,000 lives since President Felipe Calderon took office in December 2006, and when voters go to the polls to elect a new leader July 1, that dreadful figure may cost his party the presidency.
A recent government crackdown on Russian media, particularly online information portals specialising in health tips and harm reduction methods for drug users, has sparked widespread public opposition, with critics claiming that the "draconian silencing" of public health advocates could worsen an already perilous health situation in the country.
The Orban-administration is very hostile to those minorities deemed to be deviant by the majority, for example homeless people and people who use drugs. The current Hungarian legislation is already one of the most restrictives in Europe.
The U.N. agency that fights drugs and crime estimated that cocaine trafficking is generating some $900 million annually in West and Central Africa as South American cartels use the shortest route to transport drugs to Europe.
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) announces a call for applications to its 5 day long Video Advocacy Training to be held in Budapest on 20-26 May 2012. Application deadline is 19 March, 2012.
This month, IDPC, the Washington Office on Latin America, the International Doctors for Healthy Drug Policies and Harm Reduction International wrote to Peruvian government officials to express our condolences for the recent tragedy at “Cristo es Amor” rehabilitation center last January and urge the government to adopt measures to protect people dependent on drugs against involuntary and inappropriate treatment.
Contrary to the impression that India is being used as a transit point by international traffickers to smuggle Afghan heroin to both Europe and the US, the United Nations drug report, 2011, has said that India is the biggest consumer of heroin. Of the 40 tonnes produced in south Asia, nearly 17 tonnes are consumed in India, the biggest consumer in the region with the trade valued at $1.4 billion.