The meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs held in Vienna this spring showed how international drug policy is moving slowly. That is why every entry on harm reduction, human rights and public health is politically significant – a guest article by Aleksi Hupli, a Finnish researcher, first published in Finnish by A-Clinic Foundation.
United Nations Drug Policy
Dismantling Orbán’s System – Drugreporter interviewed by Arild Knutsen
As Hungary heads toward a pivotal election, the camera turns on two of its most prominent drug policy advocates. In this interview conducted by Arild Knutsen, Drugreporter founders Péter Sárosi and István Gábor Takács reflect on decades of activism—and explain why they are now taking their fight to the streets to challenge an increasingly repressive system.
Every step to improve lives is worth fighting for — Martin Jelsma on a 30-year drug policy struggle
The global drug control system is under growing pressure, as countries experiment with regulation and long-standing assumptions are being challenged. Martin Jelsma, who is stepping down from the Transnational Institute this year after decades of work, has been at the forefront of these debates. In this interview, we discuss the WHO’s coca review, inter se treaty reform, and what these shifts mean for the future of global drug policy.
UNGASS Promises Unfulfilled: Marie Nougier on the Challenges Facing Global Drug Policy
Ten years after the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs (UNGASS), a new report by the International Drug Policy Consortium takes stock of progress and remaining gaps in global drug policy. We spoke with Marie Nougier about what has changed over the past decade—and what still needs to change.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we built” — Ann Fordham on Leaving IDPC After 17 Years
After 15 years at the helm of the International Drug Policy Consortium, Ann Fordham is stepping down as Executive Director. Under her leadership, IDPC has grown into one of the most influential global networks advocating for drug policies grounded in human rights, public health, and social justice. In this interview, we reflect on IDPC’s achievements, ongoing challenges, and what lies ahead.
Beyond Prohibition: Pavel Bém on Czechia’s Next Wave of Drug Policy Reform
We spoke with Pavel Bém, a Czech psychiatrist and former mayor of Prague in Vienna during the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) about the country’s latest reforms—from cannabis regulation to psychedelic therapy—and what they mean for the future of drug policy in Europe.
Beyond the Nordic Paradox: How Harm Reduction Is Transforming Drug Policy in the North
Civil society and drug user activists push harm reduction reforms across the Nordic region – please watch the videos from a side event at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and learn more about drug policy reform in Scandinavia!
“Changing the current drug policy regime has become a life cause for me” – An Interview with Colombia’s Ambassador At-Large for Drug Policy Laura Gil
On the eve of her departure from her post as the Ambassador of Colombia to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, we spoke to Ambassador Laura Gil about her time in Vienna, her achievements, the challenges she faced as well as her hopes for the future of international drug policy.
Coca, Harm Reduction, and Reconciliation – An Interview with Diego Andrés Lugo-Vivas
At the 28th Harm Reduction International Conference, we spoke with Diego Andrés Lugo-Vivas about the impact of the Drug War in Colombia and how the philosophy of harm reduction could be applied to the coca leaf. Watch the video!
WHEN THE ADULT IN THE ROOM IS GONE: Trump’s Budget Cuts and Global Drug Policy
The Trump administration’s slashing of foreign aid is already having a devastating impact on harm reduction and HIV services around the world. But the harmful effects extend far beyond that. Drugreporter interviewed key experts at the annual UN drugs meeting, the CND in Vienna, to provide a clear picture of the real impacts.
