Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and accounts for approximately 30 million cases worldwide. Because of the increasing global life expectancy, this prevalence is expected to nearly quadruple by 2050. With these numbers on the rise, researchers are looking for novel approaches to prevent and treat the disease—and cannabis is among those being considered. But how far has research come in proving its utility?

Alzheimer’s usually begins by attacking the brain’s hippocampus, a critical brain region in memory processing. This causes memory and cognitive impairments that define the initial stages of the disease. It also contributes to the anxiety, depression, and agitation from which AD patients also suffer. As the disease progresses through the rest of the brain, additional symptoms develop that impair normal functioning.

A look into the benefits of cannabis for Alzheimer’s disease

As a new safe consumption site opened its doors in Victoria last week, marking a new wave of government funding to battle British Columbia’s overdose crisis, drug users say their own peer-run programs are being kept at arm’s length, and may be missing out on some life-saving resources. With the largest injection site on Vancouver Island now up and running, focus has shifted to a second stream of funding, an extra $1.65 million the province allocated “for community-led responses to the opioid overdose crisis.” The announcements come in the wake of more staggering illicit drug overdoses in the province—so far there’s been 511 illicit drug overdose deaths in BC as of April 30, and Victoria has seen 39 overdose deaths already this year. The new money is undoubtedly good news; however, some peer-harm reduction groups like the Society of Living Intravenous Drug Users (SOLID) say they’re still falling short of the resources and staff they need to combat the overdose crisis—mainly because of how it’s distributed. Their main issue with funding model is outlined in a letter to the Overdose Emergency Response Centre (OERC) signed by several drug user groups, including SOLID’s programs director Jack Phillips, and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU).

Drug users want to lead Victoria’s opioid crisis battle

Drug challenges are among the most complex problems we face, with wide-ranging impacts on health and well-being, families and communities, security and sustainable development.

Addressing them requires a holistic focus across many fronts, as highlighted in the outcome document unanimously adopted by the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem.

At the same time, we need to expand evidence-based approaches to prevention, treatment and support.

The UNGASS outcome document outlines concrete steps for taking such balanced action, rooted in the principle of shared responsibility. It is also flexible enough to allow countries to pursue national drug policies according to their priorities and needs – as I did when I was Prime Minister of Portugal.

In line with the three international drug control conventions, I introduced non-criminal responses to drug possession for personal use, while increasing resources for prevention, treatment and social reintegration, and reinforcing criminalization of drug trafficking.

There are no easy solutions. But my own experience reinforces my strong conviction that we can chart a better path to counter the world drug problem.

Building on agreed international frameworks and using the UNGASS consensus as our guide, I urge countries to advance prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services; ensure access to controlled medicines while preventing diversion and abuse; promote alternatives to illicit drug cultivation; and stop trafficking and organized crime – all of which would make an immense contribution to our work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Together, we can ensure that all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity.

 Message of United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday authorized the use of drones to fumigate coca leaves at low altitude using the herbicide glyphosate as part of the Andean nation's battle to eliminate the plant's use in cocaine production. Santos, who leaves office in August, approved the measure a day after the United States said Colombia's coca cultivation had increased 11 percent to 209,000 hectares (516,450 acres) in 2017 and potential cocaine output had risen 19 percent to 921 metric tons a year. Colombia, one of the world's largest cocaine producers, suspended aerial fumigation using glyphosate in 2015 after the World Health Organization linked it to cancer.

Colombia to use drones to fumigate coca leaf with herbicide


June 26th marks the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This year’s theme is on the creation of healthy and safe environments for children and youth, 

Listen First- Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe

 to increase support for prevention of drug use based on science and thus creating well-being of children and youth, their families and their communities.

Women4GlobalFund (W4GF) and partners bring into focus the voices and lives of women who use drugs. Women who use drugs are often caregivers and are impacted by harmful drug policies that do not support women’s enjoyment of their right to lead full lives together with their families. The connection between the impact of gender inequality on women who use drugs and the impact of punitive legal frameworks must be understood as reinforcing each other. Structural gender inequality impedes the development of effective drug policies that adequately understand and address the rights of women who use drugs. Additionally, punitive legal frameworks under current drug policy regimes reinforce gender inequality and the negative impact of criminalisation is visible in police violence, stigma and stereotyping faced by women who use drugs.

National responses to people who use drugs are often retributive and linked to criminal sanctions. Women who use drugs are more criminalized compared to men who use drugs and face more serious charges leading to tougher sentences. Advocacy campaigns continue to amplify the negative effects of punitive approaches to drug users on prevention and treatment efforts. Support. Don’t Punish. advocates for the decriminalisation of people who use drugs and calls for policy reform to guide treatment and prevention. Punitive measures and draconian laws in many regions, particularly in Eastern Europe and Asia, continue to punish and incarcerate women for possession and drug use. Criminalisation impedes women’s human rights; silences human rights violations and blocks access to services. Women who use drugs are afraid to advocate for themselves and it is often dangerous for advocates to speak on behalf of women who use drugs.

W4GF Statement: Support- don't punish women who use drugs

(This statement has been organized by DRCNet Foundation (aka "StoptheDrugWar.org"), an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council since 2016.)

We the undersigned condemn President Trump's call to impose the death penalty for drug offenses. The death penalty for crimes other than murder is likely to violate the US Constitution, and the UN has called for a moratorium on executions with the aim of abolishing the death penalty as a whole. President Trump's rationale for this policy is premised on falsehoods. The world's two major executors for drug offenses, China as the president cited, and Iran, both have significant drug abuse and trafficking issues. China is a leading source for black market fentanyl and is a major exporter of methamphetamine to the Philippines. Iran has a growing addiction rate from widely available Afghan heroin. Both countries have scaled back their use of the death penalty for drug offenses in recent years, and both have invested significantly in harm reduction programs like syringe exchange and opioid substitution therapy. The other country President Trump has cited in arguing this position is Singapore. However, the government of Singapore has used essentially faked data to defend its draconian policies to its people and at the UN. Singapore has drug issues like every other country, and in some ways drug use is becoming more open.

More than 140 organizations condemn President Trump's call to execute people for nonviolent drug offenses

THE WAR ON DRUGS IS A WAR ON US – 26TH JUNE IS THE REMINDER

“People do not lose their human rights because they use or sell drugs”

– UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein

The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs and its follow-up treaties are merely based on prohibition, criminalization and punishment that incite war on drugs approach. These treaties undermine the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and dismantle 

 from the three pillars of the United Nations.

For the last 30 years the United Nations and the member states (country governments) have been observing 26thJune to express their determination and celebrate their contributions to the global war on drugs.

Since 2016, we have witnessed unprecedented level of atrocities perpetrated by the Asian governments. In the Philippines, Duterte declared his war on drugs that has already resulted in over 20,000 extrajudicial killings and thousands of arrests of people suspected of using or selling drugs. Indonesian police and narcotics agency have fatally shot at least 106 suspected people in 2017. Similar approach in Cambodia has also resulted in massive arrests and detention of people suspected of using or selling drugs. Over 130 people have been killed and more than 13,000 people arrested in Bangladesh since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a nationwide anti-drugs campaign in May 2018. Most countries have a compulsory detention facility that governments prefer to call a “treatment center”. In these facilities, it is estimated that more than 500,000 people are detained at any one time. These centers are basically the factories of human rights violations.

ANPUD statement: The war on drugs is a war on us- June 26th is the reminder

The World Drug Report 2018, launched this week by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted the importance of gender in drug consumption and behaviour, suggesting it is essential to provide different types of health-care and legal solutions. As Marie Nougier, Head of Research and Communications at the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) told IPS: “There is certainly no one-size-fits-all strategy towards drug use – there should be a range of evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, treatment and other health and social support services that are able to respond to the many problems women may face when using drugs”.

Fight against drug consumption needs gender specific treatments

Church leaders and activists have welcomed what they think is a possible softening in the Indonesian government's hard-line drug policy after the anti-narcotics agency said it would push for drug users to be rehabilitated, rather than imprisoned. The move was announced on June 26 when the Indonesia National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) agreed on June 26 — the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking — to boost cooperation in rehabilitation efforts for drug addicts. UNODC country manager, Collie F. Brown, said both institutions agreed that the best way to stop the spreading of drugs is through rehabilitation of drug addicts, rather than sending them to prison. Indonesia imposes harsh punishments for drug related crimes. Under President Joko Widodo the country has executed 18 prisoners for drug trafficking, while police have shot dead 99 peopleduring its anti-drug war. Users, meanwhile, are systematically jailed. Azas Tigor Nainggolan, coordinator of the human rights desk of the Indonesian bishops' Commission for Justice, Peace and Pastoral for Migrant-Itinerant People welcomed the agreement, saying the church has long advocated for rehabilitation rather than jail time.

Indonesia adopts softer approach with drug users

Up to 300 people a day are expected to use Victoria's first medically supervised drug injecting room when it opens in the coming days. The Victorian Government committed to a two-year trial at the North Richmond Community Health Centre, after three separate coroners called for a supervised space. Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said it would save lives. "I look forward to speaking to less families who have been subject to the trauma and grief of losing loved ones," he said. The centre is made up of different rooms where users are assessed, an injecting space, and treatment and recovery rooms. Up to 11 people can use the rooms at once, and based on the rates of use through the centre's existing needle exchange it is estimated up to 300 people may visit throughout the day.

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