The war on drugs has failed, says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on world leaders to consider drug use as a health issue, after declaring that «the war on drugs has failed, completely and utterly».

Speaking at the Dealing with Drugs II in Warsaw, Poland, Mr. Türk emphasized that the punitive drug policies not only failed to reduce drug use, but also exacerbated the damage caused to society.

«The evidence is clear. The so-called war on drugs has failed, completely and utterly. And putting people before sanctions saves more lives,» said Mr. Türk.

He stressed the inability of criminalization and prohibition à deter drug-related crime or to protect vulnerable groups within society. These declarations will find an echo in the current context of a increasing production volumes, distribution and use of drugs.

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 prioritizing health, dignity and inclusion, guided by the Int.Guidelines onHuman Rights & Drug Policy. pic.twitter.com/WbRPaSWZGk

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- Volker Türk (@volker_turk) December 5, 2024

A global crisis in drug trafficking and consumption

The High Commissioner's concerns are set against a backdrop of increasing production. and drug trafficking. Despite the initial reduction in opium cultivation Following the Taliban ban in Afghanistan, the opium trade has seen a resurgence, with heroin exports increasing by 19% in 2024. Iran continues to receive a steady flow of heroin while facing an increase in synthetic drugs such as crystal meth and captagon.

In Europe, the cocaine market is now valued at $33 billion. In North America, the opioid crisis has reached catastrophic proportions, with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl leading to high mortality rates. in the United States and Canada, punitive measures have failed to tackle the complex problems associated with drugs.

A call for evidence-based policy and decriminalization

Mr. Türk advocates evidence-based approaches that prioritize health and integration over punishment.

«We need to start treating the person, not punishing the drug use disorder,» he said.

Added: His vision calls for decriminalization combined with risk-reduction strategies such as education, social reintegration and community initiatives. public health. These approaches aim to reduce the stigma surrounding drug use and to mitigate the risks it represents for the company.

The results of harm reduction policies show that treating the drug use as a health problem rather than a crime can have measurable benefits. For example, as Portugal has shown, focus on social reintegration reduces drug-related infections, while giving priority to the’education rather than incarceration correlates with a reduction in drug use.