North America

US President Nixon launched the "war on drugs" in the 1970s. Today, incarceration, social marginalisation and drug-related deaths have led North America to rethink this strategy. However, although positive developments are happening locally in the fields of harm reduction, alternatives to incarceration, new drug law enforcement approaches and cannabis regulation, the US and Canadian federal governments remain resistant to drug policy reform.

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Results 1 to 20 of 948.

Panel takes sobering read of status of international drug policies

The war on drugs has had a catastrophic impact on public health and human rights, particularly for populations already suffering vulnerabilities.

News Alerts 5 days, 14 hours ago

Cracks in the 'Vienna consensus' reach breaking point at drugs 'omnibus' resolution in New York

Cracks in this well-trodden system have long been apparent in Vienna but finally reached a breaking point in an unlikely place – New York – as negotiations for the annual resolution “International cooperation to address and counter the world drug problem” (also known as the drugs “omnibus”…

Blog Posts 5 days, 16 hours ago

By Heather HaaseConsultant: New York

Trump says China will curtail fentanyl. The U.S. has heard that before.

The blanket ban on fentanyl analogues does little to address the dearth of health and harm reduction services in the US.

News Alerts 6 days, 11 hours ago

International Indigenous Drug Policy Network launched in New Zealand

The network will approach other indigenous organisations and first nations to advocate for reform that is respectful of indigenous communities.

News Alerts 6 days, 13 hours ago

Breaking Good - how to end the war on drugs

28 November 2018 16:00-18:00

New York City, United States

This talk examines international perspectives, experiences, and approaches in realizing the drug reform goals in Ecuador, Ghana, The United Kingdom, and The United States.

Events 27 November 2018

How Canada marijuana legalization impacts on Latin American drug policy?

Canada have an important role to play in first informing international drug policies with progressive thinking, and second by demonstrating to Latin America, the desirability of legalisation.

News Alerts November 22, 2018

Inconsistencies in the assumptions linking punitive sanctions and use of cannabis and new psychoactive substances in Europe

The Society for the Study of Addiction suggest that lowering legal penalties for drug consumption does not encourage the use of drugs.

Publications November 22, 2018

Why are some drugs illegal?

In a history-informing video, it is believed that illegal status of specific drugs came about not because of health, but instead racial prejudice.

News Alerts November 15, 2018

Students for Sensible Drug Policy International Conference 2019

29 - 31 March 2019

Crowne Plaza Chicago Ohare Hotel & Conference Center 5440 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018

#SSDP2019 Will bring together a large group of students and academia to discuss various prominent drug-related topics.

Events 15 November 2018

Beyond 2019: The future of drug policies, and the lessons learned

19 November 2018

New York, United States

The panel will assess the progress, or lack thereof, against the objectives set in the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action.

Events 10 November 2018

Drugs in jails: Canadian ministry says it doesn't keep track of overdoses and naloxone use

The Ministry has acknowledged better monitoring is needed.

News Alerts November 1, 2018

Impacts of marijuana legalisation in Colorado

Related arrests and court proceedings, as well as youth use, have declined, but authorities underscore more data will be needed.

Publications November 1, 2018

Canada, cannabis and parallel universes

The INCB's intransigent position on cannabis is a mixed opportunity to foster dialogue about the increasing reality of legal regulation.

INCBPost October 25, 2018

Fentanyl test strips prove useful in preventing overdoses

Half of the 92 participants of the study who used the strips detected fentanyl in their drug supply.

News Alerts October 25, 2018

Trump claims on opioid crisis met with mix of skepticism and hope by experts as deaths plateau

Most Americans remain without access to evidence-based treatment and harm reduction services.

News Alerts October 25, 2018

Marijuana arrests are increasing despite legalization, new FBI data shows

Despite more states legalising cannabis in the US, almost 600,000 people were arrested for simple cannabis possession in 2017.

News Alerts October 17, 2018

Evaluation of a fentanyl drug checking service for clients of a supervised injection facility, Vancouver, Canada

The study confirms the local pervasiveness of fentanyl adulteration and the harm reduction potential of drug checking services in safer consumption sites.

Publications September 28, 2018

Trump to host UN meeting on drug policy: Veneer of consensus masks deep disagreement on global drug policy

Far from an effort at achieving mutual understanding and genuine consensus on drug policy, the "Global Call to Action" is yet another instance of heavy-handed U.S. “with us or against us” diplomacy.

Blog Posts September 21, 2018

By Martin Jelsma

By John Walsh

By Hannah HetzerDrug Policy Alliance

By Ann FordhamExecutive Director

‘The crisis is not abating’: Opioids killing more than 11 Canadians daily

Earlier this summer, the Ontario government put a freeze on plans to open new overdose-prevention sites.

News Alerts September 20, 2018

Sixty-fourth Regular Session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)

19 - 21 November 2018

Washington, D.C., United States

The upcoming session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) will be held in Washington DC from the 19-21 November 2018.

Events 18 September 2018

International Drug Policy Consortium