With opioid overdose deaths hitting record highs throughout the US, and the White House Commission calling for declaring a state of emergency, many are looking for new solutions to addiction and overdose.

But one proposal popular in some circles — the expanded use of drug courts — is not the perfect solution some make it out to be.

Created in the 80s to expedite the overwhelmed court dockets created by the drug war, they have already enjoyed a great deal of fanfare and funding — from both sides of the political aisle. But despite the good intentions that often underpin them, they are a flawed solution.

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

Criminal justice reformers are hooked on drug courts, they should kick the habit

Scotland’s drug strategy is to be “refreshed” as Scotland continues to face significant challenges including rising numbers of drug-related deaths. Work is also being done to look at ways to encourage older people with a drug problem into addiction services.

The moves were announced by Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell at the ‘Drug Policy Through a Health Lens’ conference in Glasgow on the 26th of July and come as a reportrevealed rising inequality in the 1980s put men from Scotland’s poorer areas who were born between 1960 and 1980 at increased risk of drug overdose deaths.

The latest figures for drug-related deaths is an all-time record of 706 for 2015. Released last August, the number was up on 613 in 2014 and 527 in 2013, with the median age of those who died rising to 41 years old in 2015, up from around 30 to 36 in the previous decade. Figures for 2016 are due to be published on the 15th of August by the National Records of Scotland.

Scotland’s drug strategy to be refreshed

Canadian health-care experts, including British Columbia’s provincial health officer, want the federal government to strongly consider Portugal’s approach to drug policy, including the decriminalization of personal possession.

Portugal’s model could benefit British Columbia, Perry Kendall said, noting his province has seen increased overdose deaths from illicitly produced fentanyl – a problem moving across Canada.

Portugal did not decriminalize all drugs in all circumstances, he said, noting the country’s approach removes the application of criminal law on personal possession for limited amounts while offering education and social supports.

British Columbia looks to Portugal to combat opioid crisis

The UK and Ireland both released their own drug strategies in the last few weeks and it seems as if we’ve reached a fabled position of a ‘tale of two cities’. Regional and national drug strategies are continue to become increasingly varied, but what can we learn from two opposite examples?

The UK government came under heavy criticism for their ‘new’ 2017 Drug Strategy which many believe is a continuation of failed and dangerous policies. In England and Wales, 2015 saw the number of deaths from drug misuse increase by 10.3 per cent to 2,479. Deaths involving heroin, which is involved in around half the deaths, more than doubled from 2012 to 2015.

‘The social and economic cost of drug supply in England and Wales is estimated to be £10.7 billion a year – just over half of which (£6 billion) is attributed to drug-related acquisitive crime (e.g. burglary, robbery, shoplifting).’

The many critics point out that there is very little that can be classed as ‘new’ in the latest drug strategy. Following the release of the document a debate was held in the House of Commonswhere MPs from all sides of the house added their comments over the course of a six hour session. The mood mainly reflected the frustration that many feel towards the UK’s anchored drug policy in terms of ‘prevention’ and ‘enforcement’.

A tale of two drug strategies 

As new treatments for hepatitis C reshape the landscape, new data from UNSW underscore the need to address issues including discrimination, stigma and engaging marginalised communities.

Tens of thousands of Australians have been cured of Hepatitis C since new treatments were made universally available last year, and a report released last month said Australia is on track to eliminate hepatitis C by 2026.

But while new treatments continue to dramatically reshape the landscape, data from the Centre for Social Research in Health's (CSRH) Annual Report of Trends in Behaviour 2017: Viral Hepatitis in Australia underscores the need for caution.

Addressing stigma in healthcare settings, engaging marginalised communities in prevention, and continuing to trial innovative models of care will all be imperative if the 'new era' of treatment is to fulfil its promise, the report says.

It also notes the challenges of dealing with hepatitis B: about one third of people living with the disease are yet to be diagnosed and only 6% have been treated.

A note of caution amidst a 'revolution' in hepatitis C treatment

Two studies commissioned in Liberia have simultaneously revealed that drugs, same sex and HIV remain the edges of latent conflict. Foundation Against Illicit Drugs and Child Abuse (FADCA) completed the quantitative Social and Economic Impact of Drugs, while Action Aid Liberia (AAL) conducted the qualitative Audience Insight Assessment among key population to the country’s HIV and AIDS response.

The both studies, reviewed by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluations at the University of Liberia, have unearthed startling revelations that the problem of controlled drugs and substances especially with youth involvement demands a more realistic public health approach other than the traditional repressive raid, arrest and detention of suspected drug users. The studies equally uncovered the bemoaning extent to which stigma and discrimination against same sex (particularly MSM and transgender) unleashes social damage for future generations thereby creating more HIV vulnerability. The studies further revealed that HIV, drugs and same sex influence each other.

Drugs, same sex & HIV: Edges of latent conflict in Liberia

Manila Cardinal Luis Tagle condemned "those who kill even the helpless".

Police say that since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a campaign against drug dealers 14 months ago, 3,500 people have been killed.

But rights groups say the number is much higher, and that many of those targeted are innocent. One high-profile case this week spurred new criticism.

Philippines drug campaign condemned by senior Catholics

Deputados do estado norte-americano de Oregon aprovaram um projeto de lei que pode descriminalizar o porte de drogas como cocaína, metanfetamina e heroína. O mote da proposta é o aumento do encarceramento e os impactos da proibição sobretudo nas populações negras e latinas do estado. Mais informações, em inglês, estão disponíveis abaixo.

Registe-se para recever as Alertas mensais do IDPC e obter informação sobre questões relacionadas com as políticas de drogas.

Penalties for the possession of drugs in the US state of Oregon are set to be significantly reduced, as legislators in the state approved two bills focused on criminal justice reform.

On Thursday July 6, Oregon’s Senate passed House Bill 2355 (HB-2355) and House Bill 3078 (HB-3079), which had both already been approved by the state’s House of Representatives one day earlier.

Among its stipulations, HB-2355 reduces the crime classification of unlawful possession of controlled substances in the Schedule I and Schedule II categories to a maximum sentence of one year’s imprisonment, a $6,250 fine, or both. Selling drugs, and possessing drugs with the intent to sell, continue to be felonies.

Until now, possession of Schedule I drugs – such as MDMA and heroin, and Schedule II drugs – such as methamphetamine and cocaine, have been classed as felonies. These offences were punishable by up to 10 or five years in prison, respectively. HB-2355 redefines these offences as misdemeanours.

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

Oregon (EUA) pode descriminalizar porte de heroína, cocaína, metanfetamina e outras drogas

Ending AIDS Progress: Towards the 90-90-90 Targets

. The report shows that gaps on the “90-90-90” continuum of testing, treatment, and viral suppression remain greater among men, young people, and key populations (KPs), including men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs. Challenges in achieving global targets include gender inequality and harmful gender norms entrenched in cultural practices and laws, the influence of masculine ideology on risk-taking behaviors, insufficient access to comprehensive sexuality education, and stigma, discrimination and criminalization of key populations. Ending AIDS and achieving Sustainable Development Goals require political will and urgent action to address these barriers.

According to the report, the Asia-Pacific region, where HIV is predominantly located among KPs, lags behind in treatment of people who know their status (only 66% of 90% who know their HIV status access treatment). The data varies widely varied across countries. Regionally, there is an overall 13% decline in new infections. The majority of new infections are seen in 10 Asia-Pacific countries: China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Viet Nam. These countries also have harsh laws criminalizing key populations; recent studies show that criminalizing laws and policies impede effective implementation of national programs to end AIDS. A recent study conducted in China, where sex work is illegal, found that the use of condoms as evidence of sex work by the police conflicted with the government’s plan to reduce HIV transmission through promotion of condom use.

As UNAIDS’ report emphasizes, a world without AIDS can only be achieved by placing the communities that are most affected at the center of the response. This includes meaningful community involvement in programs and policies, and effective stakeholder partnerships across the continuum of care spectrum. Community monitoring and stakeholder accountability can also support countries to fulfill their commitments.

UNAIDS 90-90-90 progress report shows key populations continue to be left behind

Ann Fordham, IDPC's Execituve Director, speaks at the New Zealand 20117 Parliamentary Symposium about the drug policy international debate: where we come from, where we are now, what the opportunities are, and what are the challenges.

Video: Ann Fordham speaks at the New Zealand 2017 Parliamentary Symposium

A horrifying image of a schoolboy being dragged to a violent death in a dirty alleyway has galvanised the Philippines against a brutal state-led war on drugs that has killed over 12,500 people in the last year.

For a nation now largely immune to the bloodied corpses of alleged small time drugs users and dealers dumped on the streets, the graphic reports of the final moments of Kian Delos Santos, 17, who was allegedly shot three times by undercover police officers, have been too much to bear.

His killing last week has united the public, senior politicians and the Catholic Church into the most significant sweep of mass protests since President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for a savage crackdown on drugs after his election last June.

Most of the 12,500 casualties have been killed by masked assassins. An estimated 3,500 have been killed in police shoot-outs, which officers often claim were self-defence.

Duterte faces nationwide revolt over drugs war after killing of schoolboy sparks outrage

 campaign is seeking expressions of interest from video producers to create a wrap-up film of the 2017 Global Day of Action.

The 2017 Global Day of Action of the campaign was its fifth and, so far, its most successful. Thousands of people joined actions in 206 cities in 94 countries. We want to honour and recognise those voices in a video that is mostly retrospective (featuring the 2017 day of action), but also forward-looking (inviting others to join in next year’s Day of Action).

We’re at a very early stage in terms of conceptualising the project, but we would like it to showcase the marvellous photos and footage that we have received from all around the world. These materials document most of the different actions that activists organised for the campaign and could be pre-selected to facilitate the production of the video. The video could also rely on text / music to help with storytelling and pace.

We expect to work closely with the production team on this aspect, but expect the video to be:

We’re expecting to invest between £600 and £1,200, depending on the complexity of the proposal.

Please send an e-mail to Juan Fernandez Ochoa (campaign@idpc.net) before Friday, 8 September 2017. Make sure to include links to previous work, a portfolio or show reel.

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