The Day the World Stands Up for Drug Policy Reform

Today we celebrate the first annual International Drug Policy Reform Day, a global day of action to stand up for the millions of lives that have been broken or lost from the failed “War on Drugs” over the last 40 years. Together, we are calling on the United Nations to create effective and compassionate drug policy based in human rights and health care.

This day coincides with a critical juncture for global drug policy. All week, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ (CND) will meet in Vienna to debate the international drug control system. They are preparing for world leaders to gather at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drug policy in April 2016 in New York City. This is the first time the assembly has met on drugs in 18 years, making it a historic opportunity to chart a new course.

While the 1998 UNGASS proclaimed to create a “Drug-Free World”, drug use and production today is higher than ever: the United Nations estimates 250 million people use drugs annually, up by nearly 20% from just seven years ago. Countries wasted trillions of dollars attempting to stop illegal drug use by relying overwhelmingly on punishment, police and prisons.

This approach isn’t a war on drugs — it’s a war on people, with racial and ethnic minorities, women, youth, and the poor being disproportionately caught in the crosshairs. Furthermore, failed policies further stoked public health crises by restricting access to essential medicines and exacerbating the spread of HIV, hepatitis C, and other blood borne viruses.

This brutality, cruelty, and inhumanity must be halted now.

When the United Nations meets to debate drug policy next month, let’s make sure they know that people everywhere are standing up for drug policy reform. To participate in International Drug Policy Reform Day, share a reason why you want drug policy reform on Facebook and Twitter using the #StopTheHarm and #CND2016 hashtags. You can also sign the petition calling on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to support decriminalizing drug use and treating it as a public health issue.

This day is supported by a global drug policy campaign called Stop the Harm, which brings together over 180 diverse, broad, and powerful NGOs from around the world who are calling for a new course firmly grounded in health and compassion.