Towards a health based approach
Criminalising drug users has clearly not reduced the problems we face, and has only served to exacerbate the harm caused by drugs. It is time for policy makers at all levels, including the UN drug agencies.
12 Mar 2015 | Swansea, UKThe global “War on Drugs” has been fought for 50 years without preventing the long-term trend of increasing drug supply and use. “Criminalising drug users has clearly not reduced the problems we face, and has only served to exacerbate the harm caused by drugs. It is time for policy makers at all levels, including the UN drug agencies, to move away from the failings of drug war ideology and embrace a new approach guided by sound evidence and public health principles”
Baroness Meacher (Chair UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Policy Reform)
Even the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime, admits that the war on drugs has had terrible “unintended” consequences:
- It diverts scarce resources away from improving health and towards ineffective law enforcement. (In Wales and England £2-4 billion spent on fighting war on drugs creating crime costs of £15 billion each year.)
- It stigmatises and marginalises drug users often deterring them from seeking treatment even when they want it. It can deter individuals from accessing advice and support which can impact on public health i.e. hepatitis, HIV
- It pushes people towards using sometimes riskier drugs
Doctors can lead the way to healthier drug policies – join IDHDP now.
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