Breaking Down the Vienna Consensus on Drugs: The consensus behind global drug prohibition is fading – watch the new video we filmed at the high level UN meeting in Vienna and find out why!
News and Films from the Frontline of the War on Drugs
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.
NEWS AND FILMS FROM THE FRONTLINE OF THE WAR ON DRUGS SINCE 2004
PAREA is Translating Psychedelic Science Evidence to Policy at the EU Level – An Interview with Tadeusz Hawrot
Tadeusz Hawrot is the founder of the Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA), a Brussels-based initiative working to prepare Europe for the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into healthcare systems. In this interview, he reflects on the policy landscape, regulatory challenges, and the future of access to these emerging treatments in the EU.
Strong Military Budget for Europe, but Not at the Cost of Community Health and Safety – An Interview with Ganna Dovbakh
With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the balance between public health, human rights, and security. We spoke with Anna Dovbakh, Chair of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, about what the strategy means in practice and the role of civil society moving forward.
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.
Decriminalization of drug use in the context of HIV: a guidance note
A new guidance note by UNAIDS, UNDP and INPUD outlines how decriminalizing drug use and possession for personal use can strengthen the global HIV response through more effective, rights-based drug policies.
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.
Democracies are faltering, the rule of law and the spirit of multilateralism are eroding, and both funding for harm reduction and the space for civil society are shrinking. Yet, despite these troubling developments, the international harm reduction movement remains on the front line, striving to keep people healthy and alive. Watch the opening and closing sessions here!
The Funding Crisis of Harm Reduction – An Interview with Catherine Cook
At the 28th Harm Reduction International Conference, we spoke with Catherine Cook from Harm Reduction International about the state of harm reduction funding and the global impact of U.S. foreign aid cuts under Trump.
Drug Policy Prospects in Trump’s Second Term – An Interview with Ethan Nadelmann
At the 28th Harm Reduction International Conference, we had the chance to speak with Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance in the United States, about the present and future of drug policy during Donald Trump’s second term as president.
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. Watch Drugreporter's 2025 video from the UN in Vienna.
The Foundation for Social Education (FES) has opened a new voluntary counseling and testing site at a women’s health center in the heart of Warsaw. As part of the CORE EU project, we had the opportunity to visit the site and interview their CEO, Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak, about the services they provide.
Drugreporter works closely with Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) to advance harm reduction in Europe!
At its bi-annual gathering the European harm reduction movement addressed the multiple challenges of our time: rising populism, shrinking space for civil society, changing drug markets and changing needs of people who use drugs. Watch our film we produced at the conference!
The Advocacy Mentorship Programme
On September 9 and 10, 2024, Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN), in collaboration with Drugreporter, hosted an Advocacy Workshop for harm reductionists in Budapest. You can now watch the recap video of the event here!
DRUG CONSUMPTION ROOMS - Around the World
Drug Consumption Rooms are safe spaces where people can use drugs under hygienic conditions, with support, and without fear of violence or legal repercussions. Join us on a global video tour to discover why they were established, how they support their local communities and how these life-saving harm reduction facilities have evolved over time.
Critical Partners: The Role of Civil Society in Drug Policies in Four EU Countries
This report gives an insight into how governments involve civil society in drug policy decision-making in four European countries.
Péter Sárosi and István Gábor Takács of Drugreporter held a series of webinars on advocacy form harm reductionists. You can now watch the video recording of all 4 webinars here!
We have been producing documentary films about drug policy reform and harm reduction advocacy since 2007.
Our latest documentary: ABANDONED – Designer Drugs on the Margins of Hungarian Society (with English subtitles)
A selection of Drugreporter's most popular documentaries
If you only watch one video about drug policy, be it this one!
The Human Rights Costs of the War on Drugs
World renowned experts explain the most serious problems with the drug war in only 8 minutes!
This film takes us through one day in the life of eight people, from seven cities, in seven different countries of the world, from morning until night. They all have something in common - all of them use drugs. But these people are not defined by their drug use.
"The film gives us an astonishingly intimate look at the lives, tribulations and inspiring resilience of drug using human beings." Gabor Maté M.D."
Our award winning animated documentary is based on the original audio recording of Kostya Proletarsky, a drug user and HIV activist who died as a result of mistreatment and torture at a Russian prison. The hand drawn animation film was awarded the Best Short Documentary award at the Madrid Film and Human Rights Festival and the Best Documentary award of the 65th Hungarian National Independent Film festival in 2020. Click here for the official web page.
Our Just Say Know video series aim to educate the public about drugs, drug polices and harm reduction in a simple, easy-to-understand way, using the power of video advocacy and social media networks.
Russian language videos on drug policy, harm reduction and human rights.
Igor Kuzmenko, a filmmaker and co-founder of the Drug Users News (DUNews) documentary studio, needs your help! Please make a donation today to support his work to produce a series of documentaries about the community of people who use drugs in Ukraine during the war. Movies about the people, organizations, and networks that save thousands of Ukrainians from death and give hope every day.
The Drug Lords International came to Vienna to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 2011. When the United Nations adopted the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961, most people did not expect that 50 years later nobody will celebrate the anniversary of global drug prohibition but a group of drug lords. Drug prohibition created a lucrative black market that generates annual revenue of 320 billion dollars for organized crime: who else have a better reason to celebrate?
Drugreporter News
In this episode: Two New US States Legalised Cannabis. Colorado Decriminalised the Use of Psychedelics. Key Points of German Cannabis Regulation Leaked to the Press. Italy Bans Raves and Free Parties. Racist Drug War in Brazil. Harm Reduction Advocate Elected to Danish Parliament.
Drugreporter Café
Tadeusz Hawrot is the founder of the Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA), a Brussels-based initiative working to prepare Europe for the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into healthcare systems. In this interview, he reflects on the policy landscape, regulatory challenges, and the future of access to these emerging treatments in the EU.
Covering International Conferences, Events and Issues
Browse videos produced by members of our international activist videographer network. Many of them are alumni of our video advocacy and media training courses.
Sharing of injecting equipment by people who use drugs leads to infections, such as Hepatitis C or HIV. Discarded needles on the streets are not welcomed by people who live in the area. The solution does not lie in the hands of the police – arresting people who use drugs does not reduce the number of drug users, but pushes them to use in a more risky way, and to discard their needles as soon as possible. The old ways of fighting drug problems don’t work. This is a campaign to find new solutions – to provide room for change. Participant cities: Athens, Belgrade, Bratislava, Bucharest, Budapest, Lisbon, Sofia and Warsaw.
DRUG POLICY ADVOCACY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
In the UN, the Direction of Drug Policy Can Be Determined by Whether a Single Word Remains in the Text or Not
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-Cilinca Foundation.
Strong Military Budget for Europe, but Not at the Cost of Community Health and Safety – An Interview with Ganna Dovbakh
With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the balance between public health, human rights, and security. We spoke with Anna Dovbakh, Chair of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, about what the strategy means in practice and the role of civil society moving forward.
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.
In this section Drugreporter provides regular updates about resources and news on how harm reduction service providers respond to the COVID-19 Epidemic.
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