Second Needle and Syringe Program Shut Down in Budapest
It is a dark time for harm reduction in Hungary: another life-saving service has fallen victim to political paranoia.
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.
Open Letter to the International Narcotics Control Board
In its annual report, the International Narcotics Control Board scolds the US and Uruguay for reforming cannabis laws. At the same time, it fails to criticise Russia for blocking opiate substitution treatment in occupied Ukrainian territories, thereby endangering the lives of hundreds of people who use drugs. In our open letter, we ask the president of the INCB to act in order to protect the core principle of the international drug conventions: public health.
Drugreporter Annual Report 2014
Films about drug policy reform from New Zealand to Europe, video advocacy trainings, conferences, reports and campaigns about harm reduction, consultation with decision makers at the national and European level – the Drugreporter Team had a very active year in 2014. Please read & download our colorful 2014 Annual Report and learn more!
Scientology’s “Drug Prevention” Programs Infiltrate Hungarian Schools
According to a new report, published by the HCLU’s Drugreporter on Monday, organisations backed by the Church of Scientology are infiltrating Hungarian schools, in order to increase the Church’s social influence.
Coffee Shops and Compromise: The Success of the Dutch Model
In 1976, the Netherlands separated the cannabis market from the market in other illicit drugs, and allowed coffee shops to sell small amounts of cannabis to adults in a controlled environment. Our new movie, supplementing the report of the Open Society Foundation, tells the story of the Dutch model and highlights its successes, as well as the challenges ahead of it.
Harm Reduction: Need for Political Leadership
At the national harm reduction conference in Budapest, presenters from Greece, Romania and Hungary reported that there are similar problems and challenges in relation to injecting drug use in Southern-Central Europe, but there are huge differences between government responses. Lack of political leadership is leading to growing HIV and hepatitis C infections among drug users all over the region.
Mandatory School Drug Testing Proposal Rejected in Hungary
A government politician's proposal for mandatory drug testing of teenagers has been rejected due to criticism.
DR. ZEE – THE MAN WHO DISCOVERED MEPHEDRONE
Watch our video interview with the man who discovered Mephedrone, the drug also known as Meow-Meow!
Turkey’s War on Drugs
The president of Turkey declared a war on drugs – but is it really what his country needs? Read our report from Istanbul!
Ombudsman Condemns the Closure of Needle Exchange in Budapest
The Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, responding to a complaint submitted by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), found that the closure of the largest needle and syringe program in Budapest violated the right to health. The mayor is now accusing the ombudsman of “being controlled by the drug lobby”.
