The war on drugs has failed: doctors should lead calls for drug policy reform
Evidence and ethics should inform policies that promote health and respect dignity
Monday, November 14, 2016
 Three United Nations treaties, the oldest from 1961, seek to "advance the health and welfare of mankind" by prohibiting the  non-medical use of some drugs. To this end, countries criminalise  producers, traffickers, dealers, and users at an annual cost of at least  $100bn. But  the effectiveness of prohibition laws must be judged on outcomes. And too often the war on drugs  plays out as a war on the millions of people who use drugs, and  disproportionately on people who are poor or from ethnic minorities and  on women.
Three United Nations treaties, the oldest from 1961, seek to "advance the health and welfare of mankind" by prohibiting the  non-medical use of some drugs. To this end, countries criminalise  producers, traffickers, dealers, and users at an annual cost of at least  $100bn. But  the effectiveness of prohibition laws must be judged on outcomes. And too often the war on drugs  plays out as a war on the millions of people who use drugs, and  disproportionately on people who are poor or from ethnic minorities and  on women.


 
						


