Policing

News23 October 2025

Weaponising the drug war: Police raid opposition candidate in Budapest

A recent search of the home of Hungarian political candidate Alexander Horváth highlights how drug-related accusations can be used as a tool for political intimidation.

Publications10 October 2025

It's not so simple: The impact of simple drug possession and trafficking offences on health equity

The HIV Legal Network outlines how criminalising laws entrench racism and stigma, deepen inequality, and endanger health and safety.

News2 October 2025

South Africa: UN expert welcomes report of police directive supporting harm reduction programmes

South African directive to end unnecessary syringe and needle confiscation prompts support from Special Rapporteur Mofokeng, citing the importance of rights-based intervention.

News25 September 2025

As ASEAN drug policy transitions, where will the Philippines stand?

Punitive drug policies in ASEAN have failed to achieve ‘drug-free’ goals, while harm reduction offers a pragmatic, rights-based alternative already showing results in the region — albeit torpedoed by Singapore's hardline stance.

Publications11 September 2025

'They won’t prosecute, but they will though:' The continuing struggle between criminalisation and harm reduction within the criminal justice system in the context of an opioid overdose crisis

Dickson-Gomez et al. show that punitive action by US police during overdose responses may increase overdose risk and decrease reliance on emergency services.

Publications16 June 2025

Public calls for service to the police: Trends before and during drug possession decriminalization in Oregon

Wire et al. conclude that Oregon's drug decriminalisation did not lead to an increase in emergency service calls and encourage strategies to counter public misconceptions of future reforms.

Publications19 May 2025

Journey mapping drug seizures among police, public health and local nonprofit professionals, and community members who use drugs

Hedden-Clayton et al. discuss how drug seizures are seen by police as safety measures but increase overdose risks for people who use drugs.

News22 April 2025

France: How the “war on drugs” is turbo-charging surveillance powers

French bill proposes draconian expansion of surveillance powers in the name of drug control, despite lack of evidence for efficacy and substantial risks for privacy, digital security, and civil liberties.

News7 April 2025

US: Oregon abandoned its radical drug law. Then came the mass arrests

The state's decriminalisation rollback has led to thousands of arrests feeding disruptive cycles of detention and release with no improvements in access to housing, healthcare and other forms of support.

Events

A World of Harm: How US taxpayers fund the global war on drugs over evidence-based health responses

Virtual

4 December 2024 - 4 December 2024

HRI and DPA extend an invitation to a launch webinar showcasing their recent report, which analyses harms caused by US international drug control spending.

Publications1 October 2024

Criminal legal system engagement among people who use drugs in Oregon following decriminalization of drug possession

Smiley-McDonald et al. find that despite decriminalisation, people who use drugs in Oregon continued to face high levels of policing, incarceration and drug seizures, whilst awareness of decriminalisation remained low.

Publications1 October 2024

Know your rights: On drug laws for Indigenous people who use drugs

The HIV Legal Network highlight the deep-rooted colonialism and racism underpinning Canada's drug laws, offering Indigenous people who use drugs crucial knowledge about their legal rights and protections.

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