A coalition of associations denounces «an [anti-drug] campaign that blames for a failed policy».»

The French government's latest anti-drug campaign is being criticized by numerous health and human rights organizations, who claim that it is not only ineffective, but also counter-productive.

Launched on February 6, the campaign uses shock tactics and moral condemnation to discourage drug use. Visit experts on the subject that it highlights the government's persistent failure to combat drug addiction with evidence-based policies.

The campaign, characterized by dramatic imagery and a strong message of guilt, has been widely criticized for its stigmatizing approach. According to a coalition of organizations, including Médecins du Monde PACA, AIDES and Groupe SOS Solidarités, the initiative reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of addiction and drug-related problems.

These organizations believe that the government has once again chosen to invest in scaremongering rather than public health solutions, a campaign that would ultimately be a blatant admission of the failure of 60 years of prohibition.

The pitfalls of a fear-based approach

The associations point out that guilt and shame have always been ineffective in reducing drug use, as such approaches drive people further into hiding, making it more difficult to seek help.

Drug users are already heavily blamed and stigmatized by the illegality of their practices, without the need to label them as responsible for drug-related violence and deaths. This additional stigmatization will only marginalize them further, without having any significant impact on consumption rates or the illegal drug trade, writes the collective.

The organizations point out that fear-based messages have long been discredited in the field of public health. While shock campaigns have had some success in areas such as road safety, they have failed when applied to drug addiction, alienating those most in need of support while driving them away from prevention and treatment services.

An alternative route: Drawing inspiration from international models

The signatories call for a complete overhaul of French drug policy, and urge the government to adopt approaches that have proved successful in other European countries.

«Germany, Luxembourg and Malta have legalized cannabis. Since 2001, Portugal has decriminalized the use of ALL drugs, with particularly enlightening results. In Germany and the Netherlands, possession for personal use is no longer a criminal offence», the statement underlines.

Portugal, which has decriminalized the use of all drugs in 2001, has achieved remarkable results, including a reduction in overdoses and drug-related crime.

The press release points out that effective harm reduction strategies do exist, such as supervised drug consumption centers. These sites, known as «Haltes Soins Addictions» in France, offer a safe space for the consumption of drugs under medical supervision, reducing the risk of overdose and facilitating access to healthcare. While there are over 100 such centers in Europe, France has just two, reflecting the country's reluctance to adopt progressive drug policies.

The coalition of organizations calls for urgent reforms, including decriminalization of drug use, nationwide expansion of supervised consumption sites and improved access to harm reduction services.

«We call on the government to make a complete paradigm shift in drug policy, drug prevention and addiction care», they insist.

At the same time, other associations as Fédération Addiction or healthcare professionals were also outraged by this advertising campaign, which was «contrary to the prevention recommendations of the French Ministry of Health».