The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for world leaders to treat drug use as a health issue after declaring that the “war on drugs has failed, completely and utterly”.
Türk made the statement at the Dealing with Drugs II conference, an event held in Warsaw, Poland which brought together global leaders and drug experts.
“The evidence is clear. The so-called War on Drugs has failed, completely and utterly. And prioritizing people over punishment means more lives are saved,” said Türk.
“Criminalisation and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and failed to deter drug-related crime. These policies are simply not working – and we are failing some of the most vulnerable groups in our societies.”
The High Commissioner’s call comes as the world is seeing high levels of drug production and distribution.
Despite a 2022 Taliban ban that initially reduced opium cultivation by 95 per cent, Afghanistan still has a thriving Opium trade. In 2024 the country saw a 19 per cent resurgence in heroin exports. As reported by leafie, Iran has seen a consistent flow of heroin from Afghanistan despite the ban, as well as an increase in synthetic drugs such as crystal methamphetamine and captagon. The European cocaine market is believed to be worth $33 billion, while North America is currently facing an unprecedented opioid crisis, with synthetic drugs such as fentanyl claiming lives at an alarming rate across the United States and Canada.
The ‘War on Drugs’ destroyed lives and damaged communities. Criminalisation and prohibition have failed to reduce drug use and deter drug-related crimes. We need new approaches prioritising health, dignity and inclusion, guided by the Int.Guidelines onHuman Rights & Drug Policy. pic.twitter.com/WbRPaSWZGk
— Volker Türk (@volker_turk) December 5, 2024
Instead of focusing on punishment for individuals who use drugs, the High Commissioner suggested global leaders should adopt an evidence-backed policy of decriminalisation.
“We need to start treating the person, not punishing the drug use disorder,” Türk said.
“Focusing on inclusion and education over incarceration means that drug consumption falls. Choosing social reintegration over stigmatisation means that drug-related infections decrease.”
In 2021 the UK government estimated that the harm caused by illegal drugs costs the country £20 billion each year. Harm reduction policies accept that drug use will occur regardless of legality, and instead prioritise reducing the risk to health and wider society.
Image source: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
