Post by Admin on Jul 4, 2020 3:34:50 GMT
Time For Drug Policy Reform
Hi all,
At the end of last year, I wrote to you about why we need to see the UK drug death crisis as a right to health issue. Since then, Covid-19 has led to a growing recognition that the health and well-being of each of us is interconnected, and that promoting public health means protecting the health of all of us. It's vital that we expand this perspective to other issues, including drug policy, to build evidence-based reform grounded in respect for human rights.
Why We Need To See The UK Drug Death Crisis As A Human Rights Issue
By Harvey Slade, Associate Editor
13 Dec 2019
eachother.org.uk/why-we-need-to-see-the-uk-drug-death-crisis-as-a-human-rights-issue/
The UK's drug death crisis has not abated during the global pandemic. In fact, there's a real risk that the situation will drastically worsen. A growing number of people have turned to harmful substance use patterns during lockdown, with the EU drugs agency reporting boredom and anxiety being major factors. In a piece we published this week, we tell the story of Simon (not his real name) who became overwhelmed with suicidal thoughts during lockdown and turned to substance use in response.
EMCDDA Trendspotter briefing: impact of COVID-19 on patterns of drug use and drug-related harms in Europe
EMCDDA, Lisbon, June 2020
www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/ad-hoc-publication/impact-covid-19-patterns-drug-use-and-harms_en
Calls For Reform As Lockdown ‘Leads To Addiction Relapse’
By Sian Bradley, Journalist , Aaron Walawalkar, News and Digital Editor
2 Jul 2020
eachother.org.uk/calls-for-funding-as-lockdown-leads-to-addiction-relapse/
As lockdown eases, experts have already warned that the number of people struggling with substance abuse issues is likely to “tip off the scale”. In the longer term, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published a report last week warning that rising unemployment as a result of Covid-19 may lead to more vulnerable people engaging in harmful patterns of drug use.
The booklet provides the summary of the six subsequent booklets of the World Drug Report 2020 by reviewing their key findings and highlighting policy implications based on their conclusions. The main findings in 2020 were:
Effects of covid-19 on drug markets
Impact could be like the 2008 economic crisis
The effect of COVID-10 pandemic on drug markets is unknown and hard to predict but it could be far reaching. Some producers could be forced to seek out new ways to manufacture drugs as restrictions on movement constrict access to precursors and essential chemicals.
Following the economic crisis of 2008, some users began seeking out cheaper synthetic substances, and patterns of use shifted towards injecting drugs. Meanwhile, Governments reduced drug-related budgets.
wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/en/exsum.html
It's less than a year since two cross-party committees termed the UK drug death crisis a 'public health emergency'. There's growing concern that, as we struggle to deal with a new public health emergency — Covid-19 — issues related to drug use in the UK are only going to get worse. I'm hugely concerned that, once again, it will be the most vulnerable who suffer most.
A criminal justice approach to drugs doesn't work — something acknowledged in last year's report by the Health and Social Care Committee. What we need is an approach grounded in the right to health. So long as drug use remains a crime first and foremost, the need for compassion and support fall away behind stigma and discrimination. Ultimately, it's the vulnerable who suffer most from failing drug policies and a reluctance to acknowledge a central tenet of human rights: that we all harbour an intrinsic human dignity worthy of respect, and protection. Drug policy grounded in this understanding wouldn't criminalise people for using drugs, it would increase investment in treatment services to ensure that everyone can access the support they need.
The past decade has seen drastically shrinking funding for treatment services, and an independent review commissioned by the Home Office revealed in February that "the total cost to society of illegal drugs is around £20 billion per year, but only £600 million is spent on treatment and prevention".
Nonetheless, times of crisis often lead to radical reforms. In this context, radical reform means building a more humane, caring drug policy that looks to support the vulnerable rather than punish them.
Last week, I took part in the Support. Don't Punish global day of action, joining advocates from all around the world calling for drug policies based on health and human rights. It goes without saying that all policy should be grounded in human rights. But for some reason, this principle is often overlooked when it comes to drug policy. On Thursday, the second phase of an independent review commissioned by the Home Office into the use of illegal drugs was launched, which will consider the provision of treatment and recovery services. This is a vital opportunity to make the case for drug policy reform rooted in respect for human rights, and to ensure that we support the most vulnerable, rather than punish them.
2020 Global Day of Action:
Solidarity that can’t be confined
The 2020 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action saw thousands mobilise in [at least] 200 cities of 86 countries!
We are incredibly grateful and in awe of campaigners worldwide, who came up with the most innovative and impactful ways to safely navigate COVID-19-related restrictions and stand in solidarity with populations most affected both by the epidemic and the “war on drugs”.
supportdontpunish.org/join/?mc_cid=281629c755
Independent review of drugs by Professor Dame Carol Black
The review will examine the harm that drugs cause and look at prevention, treatment and recovery.
Published 28 February 2020
Last updated 5 March 2020
www.gov.uk/government/collections/independent-review-of-drugs-by-professor-dame-carol-black
All the best,
Harvey
Hi all,
At the end of last year, I wrote to you about why we need to see the UK drug death crisis as a right to health issue. Since then, Covid-19 has led to a growing recognition that the health and well-being of each of us is interconnected, and that promoting public health means protecting the health of all of us. It's vital that we expand this perspective to other issues, including drug policy, to build evidence-based reform grounded in respect for human rights.
Why We Need To See The UK Drug Death Crisis As A Human Rights Issue
By Harvey Slade, Associate Editor
13 Dec 2019
eachother.org.uk/why-we-need-to-see-the-uk-drug-death-crisis-as-a-human-rights-issue/
The UK's drug death crisis has not abated during the global pandemic. In fact, there's a real risk that the situation will drastically worsen. A growing number of people have turned to harmful substance use patterns during lockdown, with the EU drugs agency reporting boredom and anxiety being major factors. In a piece we published this week, we tell the story of Simon (not his real name) who became overwhelmed with suicidal thoughts during lockdown and turned to substance use in response.
EMCDDA Trendspotter briefing: impact of COVID-19 on patterns of drug use and drug-related harms in Europe
EMCDDA, Lisbon, June 2020
www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/ad-hoc-publication/impact-covid-19-patterns-drug-use-and-harms_en
Calls For Reform As Lockdown ‘Leads To Addiction Relapse’
By Sian Bradley, Journalist , Aaron Walawalkar, News and Digital Editor
2 Jul 2020
eachother.org.uk/calls-for-funding-as-lockdown-leads-to-addiction-relapse/
As lockdown eases, experts have already warned that the number of people struggling with substance abuse issues is likely to “tip off the scale”. In the longer term, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published a report last week warning that rising unemployment as a result of Covid-19 may lead to more vulnerable people engaging in harmful patterns of drug use.
The booklet provides the summary of the six subsequent booklets of the World Drug Report 2020 by reviewing their key findings and highlighting policy implications based on their conclusions. The main findings in 2020 were:
Effects of covid-19 on drug markets
Impact could be like the 2008 economic crisis
The effect of COVID-10 pandemic on drug markets is unknown and hard to predict but it could be far reaching. Some producers could be forced to seek out new ways to manufacture drugs as restrictions on movement constrict access to precursors and essential chemicals.
Following the economic crisis of 2008, some users began seeking out cheaper synthetic substances, and patterns of use shifted towards injecting drugs. Meanwhile, Governments reduced drug-related budgets.
wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/en/exsum.html
It's less than a year since two cross-party committees termed the UK drug death crisis a 'public health emergency'. There's growing concern that, as we struggle to deal with a new public health emergency — Covid-19 — issues related to drug use in the UK are only going to get worse. I'm hugely concerned that, once again, it will be the most vulnerable who suffer most.
A criminal justice approach to drugs doesn't work — something acknowledged in last year's report by the Health and Social Care Committee. What we need is an approach grounded in the right to health. So long as drug use remains a crime first and foremost, the need for compassion and support fall away behind stigma and discrimination. Ultimately, it's the vulnerable who suffer most from failing drug policies and a reluctance to acknowledge a central tenet of human rights: that we all harbour an intrinsic human dignity worthy of respect, and protection. Drug policy grounded in this understanding wouldn't criminalise people for using drugs, it would increase investment in treatment services to ensure that everyone can access the support they need.
The past decade has seen drastically shrinking funding for treatment services, and an independent review commissioned by the Home Office revealed in February that "the total cost to society of illegal drugs is around £20 billion per year, but only £600 million is spent on treatment and prevention".
Nonetheless, times of crisis often lead to radical reforms. In this context, radical reform means building a more humane, caring drug policy that looks to support the vulnerable rather than punish them.
Last week, I took part in the Support. Don't Punish global day of action, joining advocates from all around the world calling for drug policies based on health and human rights. It goes without saying that all policy should be grounded in human rights. But for some reason, this principle is often overlooked when it comes to drug policy. On Thursday, the second phase of an independent review commissioned by the Home Office into the use of illegal drugs was launched, which will consider the provision of treatment and recovery services. This is a vital opportunity to make the case for drug policy reform rooted in respect for human rights, and to ensure that we support the most vulnerable, rather than punish them.
2020 Global Day of Action:
Solidarity that can’t be confined
The 2020 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action saw thousands mobilise in [at least] 200 cities of 86 countries!
We are incredibly grateful and in awe of campaigners worldwide, who came up with the most innovative and impactful ways to safely navigate COVID-19-related restrictions and stand in solidarity with populations most affected both by the epidemic and the “war on drugs”.
supportdontpunish.org/join/?mc_cid=281629c755
Independent review of drugs by Professor Dame Carol Black
The review will examine the harm that drugs cause and look at prevention, treatment and recovery.
Published 28 February 2020
Last updated 5 March 2020
www.gov.uk/government/collections/independent-review-of-drugs-by-professor-dame-carol-black
All the best,
Harvey