The Limits of Evidence-Based Drug Policy Making
We often speak about evidence-based drug policies – but presenting decision makers with the evidence rarely works in the way it is supposed to.
Author: Péter Sárosi
Péter Sárosi is the Executive Director of the Rights Reporter Foundation. He is a human rights activist and drug policy expert, the founder and editor of the Drugreporter website since 2004, the author of countless articles, co-author of books and director of films about harm reduction and drug policy reform. He was the Director of the Drug Policy Program at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union between 2004 and 2015. He is experienced in working at international drug policy forums such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. He was twice elected to the Core Group of the EU Civil Society Forum on Drugs. He is the co-chair of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network. He has been representing the Hungarian Harm Reduction Network at the government’s drug advisory body in Hungary since 2007. Peter also contributed to building a network of advocacy NGOs in Europe: the European Drug Policy Initiative. He provided technical assistance to several NGOs, and launched several campaigns on drug policy reform. As a member of the Drugreporter video advocacy team, he has produced videos about drug policy issues in a number of countries. These videos are now part of a unique online drug policy video library.
Making Peace in the Drug War in Mexico: Interview with Zara Snapp
We interviewed Zara Snapp, a leading expert on drug policy reform in Latin-America, about the chances of making a long term peace in the war on drugs in her home country, Mexico.
How Do Students See Drug Prevention in Hungarian Schools?
An online study – conducted by Drugreporter – of more than 1100 Hungarian students revealed that there are serious problems with drug prevention in schools. It is provided mostly by police officers with outdated methods, focuses on scare tactics, and does not include much interaction with students.
Civil Society Forum on Drugs Reconvenes in Brussels
The reconvened Civil Society Forum on Drugs discussed how to put drug policy back on the EU’s political agenda at its first meeting in Brussels.
Changing the Public Discourse on Harm Reduction in Romania – Interview with Nicoleta Dascalu
Bucharest will host the 4th European Harm Reduction Conference in November 2018. We interviewed Nicoleta Dascalu, a project manager working for the Romanian Anti-AIDS Association (ARAS) about the harm reduction situation in her country.
Netti’s Story: A Pregnant Woman’s Journey in the Healthcare System in Berlin
Our new film features the story of Netti, her son Sam, and their experience with services for pregnant women who use drugs in Berlin.
The Politically Motivated Closure of Harm Reduction Programs in Hungary Violates Human Rights
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called civil society organisations to contribute to its report on the implementation of the UNGASS Outcome Document, adopted in New York in 2016. We have sent a submission about how closing down harm reduction services violated human rights in Hungary – read it below!
The Three Hopes: Drug Policies in Latvia
In cooperation with Dialogs, a Latvian harm reduction NGO, we have produced a movie about drug policies in Latvia – mainly for a Latvian audience, to educate them about why people who use drugs need support and not punishment.
Young People and Mothers Fight Together to End the War on Drugs in Belarus – Interview with Piotr Markiełaŭ
Brave young people had enough of harsh drug laws in Belarus and fight back. They found allies in the mothers of drug convicts, who went on hunger strike to demand an end to the war on their sons. Read our interview with a youth activist, Piotr Markiełaŭ!
Online Survey on EU Drug Policies
The Civil Society Forum on Drugs is conducting an online survey to assess civil society perspectives on the EU Action Plan on Drugs.
