«Support. Don’t Punish 2026»: A Global Call to Replace Repression with Public Health Measures

The June 26, 2026, activists, harm reduction organizations, health care professionals, and people affected by drug policies around the world will once again take part in the global day of action «Support. Don’t Punish".

Launched in 2013, this international campaign advocates for drug policies based on the public health, the human rights and the risk reduction, rather than on criminalization and repression.

What began as a relatively modest initiative has grown into a decentralized global movement involving hundreds of cities across several continents. Through demonstrations, public debates, artistic events, and advocacy efforts, local groups seek to challenge punitive approaches to drugs while promoting evidence-based alternatives.

According to the campaign organizers, the current political climate makes this year’s mobilization particularly important. While several countries have implemented reforms in recent years, many governments are simultaneously reverting to stricter repressive measures and increasingly punitive responses to drug use.

The campaign warns of the consequences of criminalization

As the 2026 Day of Action approaches, organizers have highlighted what they describe as the failures of the global prohibitionist model. In a press release issued on June 23, the campaign listed several reasons why criminalization should be reevaluated.

«Support. Don’t Punish» argues that repressive policies contribute to mass incarceration, disproportionate prison sentences, and growing social exclusion. The campaign also highlights an increase in executions for drug-related offenses in certain regions of the world and notes that drug use continues to rise despite decades of policies focused on repression.

Campaign representatives also argue that criminalization drives drug use underground, making it more difficult for people to access health care, treatment, and support services. They also argue that punitive approaches increase health risks, including overdoses and the transmission of infectious diseases.

Another concern is the impact of criminalization on vulnerable populations. According to the campaign, law enforcement measures disproportionately affect marginalized communities and contribute to the stigmatization of people who use drugs.

Risk reduction at the heart of the debate

The campaign's central message remains the promotion of strategies for risk reduction. Its supporters argue that these approaches have proven effective in reducing overdose deaths, limiting the spread of infectious diseases, and improving access to health care.

The movement also criticizes what it sees as an imbalance in public spending. While governments allocate significant resources to law enforcement and repression, harm reduction programs often operate on limited budgets. Organizers believe that reallocating a portion of these budgets to health services could yield better results in terms of social welfare and public health.

Among the reforms advocated by the campaign are the decriminalization of drug use, the reduction of disproportionate sentences for drug-related offenses, and the complete abolition of the death penalty for drug-related crimes.

As the campaign statement says: «People who use drugs should no longer be criminalized.»

The campaign also calls on governments to ensure that budgets allocated to drug policy adequately support health services and harm reduction initiatives.