Access to controlled medicines

Blog4 June 2025

INCB recommends increased morphine production for palliative care

The INCB’s 2024 report highlights the global failure to ensure equitable access to controlled medicines for pain relief, palliative care, and harm reduction — urging urgent, rights-affirming reforms.

Events

CND Intersessional meeting - Thematic discussions on the implementation of all international drug policy commitments following up to the 2019 Ministerial Declaration (Autumn 2025)

Vienna, Austria

30 September 2025 - 2 October 2025

A CND event to review global drug policy progress, address urgent health challenges, and prepare for 2028 stock-taking and reforms.

News19 May 2025

How LSD saved my mind - Andrea's healing story

PsychedeliCare calls on the European Commission to foster equitable, timely, affordable, safe, and legal access to innovative psychedelic-assisted therapies.

Publications29 March 2025

INCB Annual Report 2024

The INCB highlights the spread of illicit synthetic drugs, obstacles in access to controlled medicines, and the effectiveness of related programmes.

News10 February 2025

The influence of colonialism on the pain relief access abyss

Ensuring access to opioid pain relief requires tackling colonial legacies and restrictive policies that push millions into preventable suffering.

News13 January 2025

INCB holds consultation on the human rights dimensions of the international drug control treaties

The 141st session of the International Narcotics Control Board yielded a cooperation agreement for improving the availability of internationally controlled medicines.

News11 December 2024

INCB President statement for Human Rights Day 2024

Jallal Toufiq underscored the need to overcome disparities in access to controlled medicines and treatment services, prioritising health and alternatives to punishment.

Events

Geneva course on drug policy, public health, and diplomacy

Geneva, Switzerland / Online

27 January 2025 - 30 January 2025

A new course hosted online and in person at the University of Geneva will explore current events and evolving perspectives around international drug policy and controlled substances.

News2 October 2024

Thailand decides not to re-criminalise cannabis as it eyes $1bn medicinal industry

The proposed system would restrict access beyond medicinal use.

Publications25 June 2024

How to innovate in an emergency: legal and policy measures to scale up safe supply at supervised consumption services

HIV Legal Network identifies barriers and innovative workarounds in promoting a safe supply of drugs, including through non-medical programmes.

News13 June 2024

US: MDMA therapy for PTSD rejected by FDA panel

The panel emphasised risks and challenges related to assessing psychotherapeutic modalities, blinding studies, and ensuring patients' safety.

News23 May 2024

How cannabis and psilocybin might help some of the 50 million Americans who are experiencing chronic pain

Shifting attitudes and regulatory frameworks for cannabis and psilocybin in the United States may open the door for innovative approaches to pain management.

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