Until recently, most Latin American countries had zero-tolerance rules on drugs inspired by the United States. But after souring on the prohibition-style approach of the violent and costly U.S.-led war on drugs, these countries are turning to Europe.
More people than ever before are receiving antiretroviral therapy globally. However, the gap that remains is daunting and many more resources will need to be mobilised to meet the UNAIDS target of 15 million people on treatment by 2015.
The Sentencing Council's published a new guideline for drug offences in England and Wales to ensure sentences are consistent and the punishment proportionate. The guideline was launched in February 2012.
Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan covered 154,000 hectares in 2012, 18 per cent higher than the 131,000 recorded the previous year, according to the 2012 Afghanistan Opium Survey. Cultivation increased despite a significant 154 per cent increase in Government eradication efforts.
In Tanzania, a group of drug users encourages individual and group development through the creation of songs and videos. This song was part of the Participatory Video Program, a project funded by Medecins du Monde and managed by Openair Media Communications.
The Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) is launching the "Get the effects by txt!" scheme to coincide with Schoolies week in the hope it will be used by young people. The service works by sending a message listing the effects of a drug when a person texts that substance's name to a phone number.
The fact that the majority of voters in Colorado and Washington said yes to legalizing marijuana, shows that people in this state rejected decades of counterproductive, prohibitionist marijuana policies and cast their votes to regulate, tax and effectively control the substance.
Recognising that violence caused by transnational organized crime by the world drug problem is a serious threat to the welfare of citizens or promoting institutional strengthening were some of the agreements of last iberoamerican summit of Cadiz.
Médecins du Monde, Treatment Action Group and Sidaction are pleased to announce the launch of a new website, www.hepCoalition.org. This new site aims to support the global advocacy effort to improve access to Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention tools, diagnostics, treatment and care.