Young people

Publications13 December 2025

Drug decriminalization: A co-designed study outlining the implications for providers of youth services

Morgan et al. conclude that effective drug policy in British Columbia should be co-designed and co-facilitated with young people who use drugs and practitioners to better address local needs.

Publications11 December 2025

Policing and access to harm reduction services among young people who use drugs and young Indigenous people who use drugs before and after the pilot implementation of decriminalization of personal possession

McAdam et al. examine how decriminalisation reduced policing-related barriers to services, revealing important benefits for young people, including Indigenous.

News11 December 2025

Dance for freedom: Rave revolution in front of the Hungarian Parliament

Thousands gathered to protest Hungary's escalating police harassment of musicians, clubs and young people.

Publications25 September 2025

Development dimensions of drug policy: Assessing new challenges, uncovering opportunities, and addressing emerging issues

UNDP charts a rights- and development-centred turn in drug policy, prioritising decriminalisation, harm reduction, equity-led transitions, and practical pathways to responsibly regulate some drug markets.

Publications15 September 2025

Guaranteeing the rights of young people and substance use in contexts of armed conflict in the Colombian Amazon - Submission to the UN CESCR on Colombia

IDPC and A la Orilla del Río highlight how prohibitionism continues to shape the lives of young people in the Colombian Amazon, where gaps between policy and practice perpetuate stigmatisation and deny rights.

Publications14 August 2025

Youth RISE: Promoting harm reduction & drug policy reform

Youth RISE explains that current drug education, often focused on fear-mongering and punitive approaches, fails to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe.

News7 April 2025

Survey: Understanding the impact of the US stop-work order on funding for HIV and youth programmes

Y+ Global, Youth LEAD, Youth RISE and The PACT lead on this effort to better understand the cuts' impacts on operations and access to services.

Publications28 February 2025

Addressing the intersection of poverty, child protection, and drug policy in EECA - Contribution to the upcoming report of the UN SR on extreme poverty

EHRA highlights the harm repressive drug policies cause to children and families and urges reforms to ensure protections.

Events

Decriminalisation and the rights of young people who use drugs

Online

18 February 2025 - 20 February 2025

This workshop from YouthRISE will discuss youth-centred legal approaches and advocacy for youth empowerment.

Publications15 February 2025

Characteristics of supervised injection site clients and factors associated with requiring overdose intervention, Montreal, Canada, 2018–2022

Zolopa et al. identify predictive factors of overdose requiring an emergency response at SIS in Montréal, including gender identity, age, housing status, and frequency and nature of use.

Publications10 February 2025

Connecting theory and practice: Best practices of the full spectrum harm reduction – Survey report

Youth RISE explores harm reduction strategies that emphasise inclusivity, addressing social determinants of health, and adapting to diverse contexts.

Publications16 December 2024

Youth RISE statement on Full Spectrum Harm Reduction

Youth RISE advocates for an intersectional approach to harm reduction that considers both the immediate and underlying structural factors contributing to harm.

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