Policing

Publications3 September 2026

Systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the enforcement of drug laws and policies — Report of the UN EMLER

The UN Expert Mechanism on Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement calls for a fundamental shift away from punitive and militarised drug policies towards decriminalisation, responsible regulation and approaches grounded in racial justice, human rights, public health and community participation.

Events

8th International Conference on Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH2026)

Leeds, United Kingdom

6 September 2026 - 9 September 2026

LEPH2026 will bring together law enforcement, public health, policy and research experts to explore approaches at the intersection of policing and public health, including on drug policy and harm reduction.

Events

Responding to police in health service settings: Know your rights, protect your clients

Online

13 August 2026

The event offers practical tools for health and harm reduction service providers in British Columbia to protect clients’ rights and reduce unwanted police interference.

Publications20 July 2026

Counter-terrorism law, organised crime and human rights — Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism

IDPC, CELS, HRI and WOLA warn that conflating drug trafficking with terrorism enables unlawful military action, weakens human rights protections and restricts civil society space.

Events

Drugs, data and justice: Resisting algorithmic policing, building safety

Online

22 July 2026

This roundtable explores how punitive drug policies are fuelling digital systems of surveillance, exclusion and institutional violence, and how cross-movement advocacy can advance harm reduction, accountability and safety.

News18 May 2026

How the Trump White House works against itself in its efforts to prevent overdoses

Contradictory policy moves, including restrictions on harm reduction policy, risk weakening evidence-based responses to overdose.

Publications13 May 2026

Hi-fun, homepas and incidental sex with drugs: a qualitative study developing a locally grounded definition of hi-fun (chemsex) compared to other sexualised drug use types practiced by gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Thailand

Witzel et al. highlight the need for harm reduction, legal support and drug policy reform responses tailored to the realities of this specific sexualised drug use practice in Thailand.

News13 May 2026

‘We were terrified they were going to kill us’: fishers who survived US boat strike speak out

Amid mounting concern over extrajudicial killings and abuses carried out in the name of the 'war on drugs', survivors' stories underscore the deadly risk of the US campaign against 'narcoterrorism'.

Blog11 May 2026

Securitisation, narcoterrorism and a drug-free America: The US drug strategy takes a hard turn

The new US drug strategy revives 'war on drugs' rhetoric, sidelining harm reduction, human rights, and evidence in favour of securitisation, militarisation, and counterproductive abstinence-led approaches.

Publications17 April 2026

Forbidden voices: Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under drug policy in Bolivia

Acción Andina and the Programa Libertas outline how punitive practices and prohibitionist logics persist in Bolivia, highlighting the voices of surviving victims.

Publications9 April 2026

Tackling systemic racism in drug law enforcement - Civil society contribution to the UN EMLER

IDPC and civil society partners highlight the deep-rooted racial inequalities in drug law enforcement, urging for reforms to dismantle systemic harm and discrimination.

Publications16 February 2026

Confiscations, public health obstructions, and perpetual displacement: Experiences and perspectives on urban law enforcement practices during a period of 'recriminalization' among people who use criminalized drugs

Singh Kelsall et al. find that harmful policing practices persisted during British Columbia’s decriminalisation pilot and subsequent recriminalisation, including confiscations, displacement and interference with overdose response.

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