‘The War on Drugs: Failures, Impacts, and Alternatives, and the Future of Public Health’ Niamh Eastwood Release 15 November 2014

What is the aim of our current approach to drugs? To eliminate the use of all illicit drugs Criminal Justice Approach adopted on premise criminal sanctions have a deterrent effect

So clearly people will not use drugs if there is a risk of criminal penalties MDA 1971

But surely if we apply tougher penalties use will fall

But at least we can curb supply

But our drug policy is working drug use is falling

Depends what you think is more important 32% rise in heroin & morphine related deaths

So ultimately we have not done very well in achieving our goal

So what is the impact of the war on drugs nationally ,000 people criminalised every year for possession of drugs

National Impact Like in the US black & minority communities are the focus of drug policing

International (and national) impact of prohibition – UNODC (2008) A $320bn - $500bn market that fuels criminal networks (‘the financial incentives are enormous’) – Undermines security – Fuels violence Policy displacement where resources focused on law enforcement rather than public health – Led to a HIV epidemic amongst PWUD in some parts of the world – Consider Hep C in the UK

International (and national) impact of prohibition – UNODC (2008) Geographical displacement of trade – Consider Colombia, Mexico & now Belsize or West Africa – Impact on the environment Substance displacement – Mephedrone – Krokidil Marginalisation of PWUD – Human rights abuses

International impact of prohibition Access to essential medicines - Two main aims of international treaties especially the conventions of 1961 & 1971 is to limit/eliminate recreational use whilst regulating licit medical use. Over focus on the first aim. -This has led to 5.5 billion people not having access to essential medications -80% of world pop has no access to opioid analgesics

Alternatives Approaches

Ending criminal sanctions for drug possession offences (Decriminalisation) Portugal introduction of decriminalisation of all drugs in 2001 & investment in public health led to: – Decrease in use amongst vulnerable groups including problematic users and young people – Reductions in the number of young people becoming dependent on harder drugs such as heroin – The estimated numbers of injecting drug users in Portugal also decreased by over 40 per cent during that period – Increases in the number of drug-dependent individuals in treatment. – Significant reductions in transmission of HIV and tuberculosis – Significant decrease in the number of drug-related deaths and the increased investment in harm-reduction services – Improved relationship between the community and police

Positive examples of decriminalisation Czech Republic – 2002 Cost benefit Analysis of criminal justice approach: 1.Penalisation of drug use had not affected the availability of illicit drugs; 2.There was an increase in the levels of drug use within the country; 3.The social costs of illicit drug use increased significantly.

Regulation of drugs Different drugs = different regulatory models

Advice Service – Drugs & Legal Helpline: