Speaking at ‘Drug handling II’ in Warsaw on Thursday, High Commissioner Volker Türk emphasized the urgent need for a human rights-based approach to drug regulation, pointing to the record number of drug-related deaths and the Drug use disorders are on the rise.
The conference builds on the ‘Tackling Drugs I’ meeting organized by the Mayor of Amsterdam in January, which brought together leaders and experts from across Europe and the world to share experiences and Best professional knowledge.
“Criminalization and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and have failed to prevent drug-related crime. These policies simply don’t work – and we are failing some of the most vulnerable groups in our society”.
Global drug crisis
The High Commissioner’s speech comes in the context of increasing illegal drug production and distribution.
In Afghanistan, despite an initial 2022 Taliban ban, there was an initial decline Opium cultivation increased by 95%, 2024 sees a 19% resurgence due to economic hardship and rising prices. Meanwhile, North America faces an unprecedented challenge fentanyl crisiswith synthetic drugs claiming lives at alarming rates across the United States and parts of Asia and Africa.
From punishment to support
He emphasized the need for a fundamental change in approach that prioritizes health, dignity and inclusion.
“Instead of punitive measures, we need evidence-based and gender-sensitive medicine policies, grounded in public health”, Mr. Türk urged. He also called for “comprehensive access to voluntary medical care and other social services,” stressing that harm reduction measures are essential in preventing drug-related deaths. overdose.
An important element of reform is decriminalization, Mr. Türk stated. “We need to start treating people, not punishing drug addicts,” advocates for social reintegration support that comes with policy changes.
The High Commissioner points to clear evidence supporting this approach: “Focusing on inclusion and education about incarceration means drug consumption will decrease. Choosing social reintegration over stigma means drug-related infections will decrease.”
Prioritize people
At the heart of policy development, Mr. Türk emphasized the importance of focusing on those most affected by current drug policies.
“Historically, people who use drugs have been marginalized, criminalized, discriminated against and left behind – very often deprived of dignity and rights,” he noted. their”.
“We are doomed to fail unless we ensure their genuine participation in drug policy formulation and implementation.”.
“The evidence is clear. The so-called War on Drugs has completely failed,” Mr. Türk concluded. “And prioritizing people over punishment means more lives will be saved.”
