Scotland is a textbook case of how the toxic combination of growing social exclusion and poverty, the diversification of drug markets, and repressive, abstinence-only drug policies can lead to a deadly drug overdose epidemic. A new paper published by the Scottish government gives us hope that the country can now set an example to other states on how to give a compassionate and pragmatic response to the crisis.
Criminalisation
Mexico: The Long and Difficult Road to Cannabis Legalisation
Mexico is on the road to cannabis legalisation, but it seems this particular road is long and full of traps and barriers. We interviewed Zara Snapp, an activist and co-founder of Institutio RIA, a leading drug policy reform organisation in Mexico.
A World Tired of Drug Prohibition: Impressions at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
The Drugreporter team attended this year’s 66th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the largest annual global meeting on drug policies. This is a preliminary written report with some personal impressions – the videos are coming soon. The article has French and Russian translation!
Homage to Catalonia: Cannabis Social Clubs
“The essence of the cannabis social club model is sharing,” explained a cannabis activist to a group of international professionals, who came to Barcelona to study the pioneering cannabis policies of Catalonia.
Stop Blaming Cocaine Users for the Harms of Bad Drug Policies
The EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson accused cocaine users of being responsible for the death of an 11 year old girl who was caught in a shooting by drug traffickers. But the real culprit is the current drug control system that maximises harm by sweeping cocaine under the rug.
The Italian Anti-Rave Law Violates Human Rights – Interview with Susanna Ronconi
A new law, that came into effect in December, criminalised “illegal rave parties” in Italy. We interviewed Susanna Ronconi from Forum Droghe, an organisation that opposes the law on human rights and public health grounds.
Drugs Don’t Kill: Bad Drug Policies Do
“Drugs can kill” – This is how the preface of the newly published World Drug Report, written by the director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime – the Egyptian Ghada Waly – begins. But is it drugs or bad drug policies that kill people?
SWIT Animated Video Digest
Drugreporter and SWAN – The Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) co-produced this new animated series, based on the 6 chapters of “SWIT, The Sex Worker Implementation Tool.”
The Wall of Shame – Why crack consumption rooms are needed in Paris
In the last 3 decades marginalized people who use crack in Paris have been chased from one public park to the other by the police. Recently the police even built a wall to block the users from the rest of society. This new documentary explores the history of crack in Paris, and amplifies the voices of experts and residents who call for a better solution: safe crack consumption rooms.
The Narcofeminism Storyshare Model
Watch and listen to womxn who are sharing their stories about pregnancy, parenting and drug use. These stories represent truth and courage and act as a testament to the power of the Narco Feminism story share model. Drugreporter produced this short documentary film together with the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) and the North Carolina Urban Survivors Union (NCUSU). Available in video and podcast format as well!
