Amphetamine-type substances

News10 November 2024

Could the Netherlands become the first country to legalise MDMA?

In the Netherlands, rising drug-related violence and dangerous fluctuations in the contents of ecstasy pills spark recent calls for a legally regulated MDMA supply, with profits reinvested into harm reduction programmes.

Blog13 June 2024

Thailand risks reversing successful reforms, repeating drug policy failures

Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin's declarations in favour of increased punitive measures for drug use and related activities echo Thailand's catastrophic "war on drugs" in 2003, despite international recommendations for balanced, rights-based strategies.

Events

INCB civil society hearing 2024 (Theme: Synthetic drugs - Scenarios and responses)

Online

22 May 2024

The INCB will hold its annual civil society hearing in relation to synthetic drugs and their rapid expansion.

News12 November 2023

Many people left to make their own stimulant pipes and face the risks

Prevention and criminalisation of the distribution of safer smoking kits leave stimulant users to devise their own creative solutions, which can lead to entirely avoidable health problems.

News7 July 2023

Berlin introduces free and anonymous drug testing

Berlin's new drug checking initiative embraces a harm reduction approach, prioritising health and wellbeing and paving the way for safer nightlife.

Publications5 July 2023

The XTC store: An ‘experiential’ public survey

Rigoni et al. summarise expert and public opinions on the regulation of MDMA collected in relation to a pop-up installation (the 'XTC store') in Utrecht (the Netherlands) highlighting support for a strictly regulated market for MDMA products.

Publications3 July 2023

European Drug Report 2023: Trends and developments

The EMCDDA shed light on emerging trends, challenges, and policy implications surrounding drug use in Europe up until the end of 2022, revealing high availability of substances and a greater need for harm reduction services.

Publications19 April 2023

Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European multi-city study (2022 update)

The EMCDDA present their findings of the largest European project to date in the emerging science of wastewater analysis, conducted in over 100 European cities and towns to explore the drug-taking habits of people who live in them.

News9 February 2023

Just 2 meth pills could soon be enough to classify drug users as dealers in Thailand

If passed, this measure would represent a major setback in Thailand's efforts to adopt a health-led approach to drug use.

Events

Engaging with the UNODC Synthetic Drug Strategy - Civil society consultation

Online / Vienna, Austria

The meeting will lead to the development of civil society expert groups that can play a consultative role in relation to the Strategy.

Publications6 September 2022

Minimising the harms from methamphetamine

The NZ Drug Foundation and Helen Clark Foundation discuss use patterns and markets in Aotearoa / New Zealand, related harms, current regulations and how to reduce harms through psychosocial, cultural, and pharmacological approaches.

News5 September 2022

Australia: NSW attorney general ‘disappointed’ by own government’s lack of action over ice report

The recommendations by the Howard enquiry, an extensive fact-finding mission into evidence-based responses to methamphetamine use, included decriminalisation.

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