With Afghanistan now responsible for more than 90 per cent of the world's opium production, there is massive international pressure for repressive policies.
The latest report from the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme describes the high rates of drug problems in all prison systems, summarises the current state of global knowledge and research evidence, and provides a guide for policymakers on how to develop effective policies and programmes in this area.
Despite 2006 witnessing the most intensive use of fumigation in the country's history, some 157,200 hectares of cultivation were detected, 13,200 hectares more than in 2005.
In the face of a growing number of deaths and cases of HIV linked to drug abuse, the Portuguese government in 2001 tried a new tack to get a handle on the problem—it decriminalized the use and possession of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD and other illicit street drugs. The theory: focusing on treatment and prevention instead of jailing users would decrease the number of deaths and infections.
This paper reviews the research literature of relevance to Canada on the impact of law enforcement practices on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment for people who use illegal drugs.
In the Netherlands Antilles, an estimated 75 percent of crime is drug-related. Confronted with large numbers of people attempting to smuggle drugs by commercial flights, authorities implemented a “100% Control” policy of screening large numbers of passengers for drugs. The programme has been very successful in reducing cocaine smuggling via air courier.
According to qualitative research based in the European Union (EMCDDA - QED) there is little evidence of crime consequences from the vast recreational drugs scene across Europe.
This paper calls for the development and rapid scaling up of comprehensive harm reduction programmes in prisons. As part of these programmes, prison systems should provide HIV care equivalent to that available in the community, including anti-retroviral treatment.
This collaborative report critically analyses the performance of the International Narcotics Control Board in terms of its reaction over time to the growing incidence of HIV transmission through injecting drug use.