Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2021 reveals that more than 2,000 Australians have lost their lives to overdose for the sixth year in a row.

HPA outline 15 priorities to ensure social justice remains at the heart of regulatory initiatives.

The Taskforce recommends immediate legislative reform to mitigate the destructive drug deaths crisis in Scotland.

The Canadian Task Force’s recommendation include alternatives to criminal penalties for the simple possession of controlled substances.

Greer et al. discuss non-criminal responses to drug possession through three analytical categories: 1) Reform architecture, 2) eligibility criteria, and 3) actions taken upon detection of drugs for personal use.

IDPC offers a historical analysis of civil society advocacy for drug policy reform at the UN, assessing gains, challenges and insight on how the latter have been generally overcome.

By HIV Legal Network

On June 17, 2021, the HIV Legal Network held its 9th Symposium on HIV, Law, and Human Rights. This biannual symposium serves as one of Canada’s seminal events regarding HIV and human rights and offers an opportunity for education and networking among advocates, frontline…

UNDP discuss Thailand-specific data on substance use–related behaviours of the LGBT community which could potentially put LGBT people at risk, and provide recommendations to ensure their safety.

The Center for Court Innovation argues that the most effective way for drug courts to evolve is by integrating the practices and principles of harm reduction, which aims to reduce the harms related to drug use, racialised drug law enforcement, and social health disparities.

WHRIN and YouthRISE set out core issues and recommendations to end the harms of punitive drug policy on young women.

HRI report on the inhumane, disproportionate, militarised drug control policies of Sri Lanka, from its discriminatory legal framework to its use of the death penalty for simple possession.

Kilmer et al. discuss the inequities associated with cannabis prohibition, particularly its enforcement against racialised communities, and consider opportunities to advance social equity in the area of cannabis policy.

RAND outlines the potential impacts of a drop in demand for Afghan opiates, urging the international community to monitor the market and invest in rural development.

Kavanagh et al. provide evidence on the negative impact of criminalising key populations on HIV status awareness and viral suppression.

PRI and IDPC detail how policymakers and practitioners in the criminal legal system can reduce the imprisonment of women for drug-related offences in line with international standards.

Christopher Hallam (GDPO) argues for increased support toward heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) by national governments and international bodies, including the INCB.

SSDP considers that the 'drugs cost lives' narrative, although well-meaning, is stigmatising and harmful, and fuels damaging approaches based on prohibition, punishment and criminalisation.

Iversen and Maher suggest low adherence to antiretroviral therapy could be greatly reduced by engagement with opioid agonist therapy.

Rêgo et al. argue that, despite the positive progress enabled by the Portuguese model, its limited ambitions, lack of update, and regressions toward punitive responses have severely undermined its potential.