Global Commission on Drug Policy

12/08/2026

Young people must have a meaningful role in shaping the policies that affect their lives.

On International Youth Day, the Global Commission on Drug Policy highlights the importance of youth leadership, participation, and lived experience in advancing evidence-based, people-centered approaches to drug policy.

In 2026, the Global Commission has continued to engage with young people and youth-led organizations to better understand how drug policies affect younger generations and how youth perspectives can contribute to more effective responses.

At the 69th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), the Global Commission co-organized the side event "The Next Generation of Care: Youth-Centered Innovations to Renew and Strengthen Health Systems" with Youth RISE. The discussion explored youth leadership and health-centered approaches to drug policy reform, bringing together young speakers from the medical, service, and research sectors alongside policymakers, UN partners, and civil society representatives.

The event featured contributions from Commissioner Adeeba Kamarulzaman, who highlighted key findings from the Global Commission’s forthcoming policy brief on children and youth, and Commissioner Pavel Bém, who shared reflections on youth-centered innovations to strengthen health systems.

🎥 Watch the event recording here: https://globalcommissionondrugs.org/videos/

23/07/2026

Commissioner Michel Kazatchkine spoke at the launch of the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD) report "The Human Cost of Policy Shifts: A World in Turmoil", which examines how funding and policy changes are affecting harm reduction services, community-led organizations, and people who use drugs worldwide.

The report demonstrates that the consequences of funding cuts extend far beyond budgets. Communities are experiencing service disruptions, the loss of peer-led support, reduced access to harm reduction services and growing pressure from increasingly punitive approaches.

The launch event brought together representatives from INPUD, UNAIDS, World Health Organization (WHO), The Global Fund, United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR), Open Society Foundations, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Robert Carr Fund and community networks to discuss the urgent need to protect community leadership and sustain effective health responses.

During the discussion, Commissioner Kazatchkine emphasized that community-led organizations are essential infrastructure for effective health responses. People who use drugs bring invaluable lived experience and knowledge of the policies and services that directly affect their lives and must be meaningfully involved in shaping them.

Protecting community leadership, ensuring sustainable investment in harm reduction and creating enabling environments are essential to reducing HIV, viral hepatitis, overdose, and other preventable health harms.

Congratulations to INPUD and all partners involved in producing this important contribution to the global drug policy debate.

📄 Read the report:https://inpud.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/The-Human-Cost-of-Policy-Shifts.pdf

06/07/2026

How can drug policy reform strengthen HIV responses and improve access to health services?

At a side event during the 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council ( ), Global Commission on Drug Policy Commissioner Adeeba Kamarulzaman shared a video message, joining representatives from UNAIDS, United Nations Human Rights, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, INPUD, UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to discuss the recently launched guidance note, “Decriminalization of Drug Use in the Context of HIV: A Guidance Note”.

The guidance note highlights how decriminalization of drug use and possession for personal use can help reduce stigma and discrimination, improve access to health services, support harm reduction, and strengthen efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat.

Drawing on experiences from Malaysia and beyond, Commissioner Kamarulzaman emphasized the importance of evidence-informed and people-centered approaches that support public health goals and ensure that no one is left behind.

Organized by UNAIDS, UNDP, OHCHR, INPUD, the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy and Release, with the support of Albania, Portugal, Cancillería Colombia, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, the European Union, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA, Harm Reduction International, International Drug Policy Consortium, Open Society Foundations and Youth RISE.

26/06/2026

On , we recognize that drug policy stands at a crossroads.

Ten years after the 2016 UNGASS on drugs, evidence is clear: punitive approaches have failed to reduce drug use or supply, while contributing to significant health, social, and human rights harms.

At the same time, progress is possible. Around the world, governments and communities are advancing harm reduction, decriminalization, and other evidence-informed and people-centered approaches that better protect health, dignity, and wellbeing.

📄 Learn more about what can be done in “Taking Control: Pathways to Drug Policies That Work” (available in Arabic, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian & Spanish): https://globalcommissionondrugs.org/gcdp-reports/taking-control-pathways-to-drug-policies-that-work/

23/06/2026

2025 was a year of expanding dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and advancing evidence-informed and people-centered drug policy reform.

Throughout the year, the worked with governments, United Nations agencies, civil society, researchers, and affected communities to advance more effective approaches to drug policy.

Highlights included supporting discussions on the future of the international drug control system, launching a new global initiative focused on children and youth, convening ministers and global health leaders through the World Health Assembly, expanding engagement in international criminal justice forums, and visiting The Thistle, the United Kingdom's first officially sanctioned drug consumption room.

Together, these efforts reflect our commitment to drug policies grounded in health, human rights, scientific evidence, and lived realities.

📖 Read our 2025 Annual Report:https://globalcommissionondrugs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GCDP-annual-report-2025.pdf

26/05/2026

Un webinaire à venir abordera la régulation des stimulants.

Organisé avec le Groupement Romand d'Etudes des Addictions (GREA), AIDQ , la Fédération Addiction, féda bxl asbl et Transform, cet événement réunira différents points de vue sur des approches fondées sur la santé publique et les droits humains.

Une intervention de Commissaire Ruth Dreifuss est prévue. Elle a également rédigé la préface du rapport associé.

🗓 28 Mai
🕐 16 h à 18 h CET (10 h à 12 h au Québec)
🔗 Inscription : https://www.aidq.org/fr/calendrier-des-activites-et-formations-details/authentication/comment-reguler-les-stimulants-un-guide-pratique/87721

22/05/2026

At the World Health Assembly, the convened a high-level Inter-Ministerial Dialogue on expanding access to opioid agonist maintenance therapy (OAMT).

The discussion brought together representatives from World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, The Global Fund, INPUD, Skoun Addiction Center, and governments—including Kenya, Malaysia and Ukraine—to share experiences and identify pathways to scale up access to this essential treatment.

Speakers emphasized the urgent need to close gaps in access, strengthen health systems, and ensure that drug policies prioritize public health and human rights.

Expanding OAMT remains a critical step toward reducing harm, preventing overdose deaths, and improving health outcomes globally.

14/05/2026

🚨SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT🚨

We are honoured to announce that Ruth Dreifuss will be speaking at this year’s Stop The Deaths conference.

A former President of the Swiss Confederation and a founding member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, Ms Dreifuss is internationally recognised for her leadership on progressive drug policy, public health and harm reduction. During her time in government, she helped pioneer approaches to drug use and HIV/AIDS prevention that continue to influence policy around the world.

Ms Dreifuss will share her insights on international policy developments and the future of drug policy reform on the first day of Stop The Deaths.

Her participation reflects the role of our conference in bringing together experts and innovators to explore fresh perspectives and bold ideas, as we work collectively to strengthen Scotland’s approach to drug-related harm.

📆 26 & 27 August
📍 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
🔗 Book now: https://buff.ly/biBtQOD

11/05/2026

Pavel Bém addressed the European Parliament’s SANT Committee, focusing on key drug policy priorities.

Pavel Bém— Global Commission on Drug Policy and ECECACD Commissioner, National Drug Coordinator of the Czech Republic, and former Mayor of Prague — spoke about the EU Drug Strategy, drug policy in EU accession candidate countries, and the growing challenges linked to the war in Ukraine, including its impact on mental health and drug use.

Watch the highlights and expert insights on the future of drug policy across Europe.

Pavel Bém | European Parliament | Eurasian Harm Reduction Association - EHRA | Tetyana Deshko | Ганна Довбах | Lena Kucheruk | Michel Kazatchkine - Мишель Казачкин | Инна Гаврилова

11/05/2026