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Transform Drug Policy Foundation
Transform News – February 2009 Briefings Support Donate Media Blog
“... the illegality of drugs causes more harm than good...the sanest response would be a system of regulation and taxation, bringing drugs into line with the other harmful choices that people make, like smoking and drinking”
-- Libby Brookes – The Guardian

Contents

Media Highlights
International News
UK News
Transform News
Special Feature
 

 

Media Highlights

There have been a number of really excellent articles in the media this month on drug policy (many of these include Transform quotes) some highlights include:

International News

UNGASS global drug strategy review

'Next week ministers from around the world gather in Vienna to set international drug policy for the next decade. Like first-world-war generals, many will claim that all that is needed is more of the same. In fact the war on drugs has been a disaster, creating failed states in the developing world even as addiction has flourished in the rich world. By any sensible measure, this 100-year struggle has been illiberal, murderous and pointless.’

The Economist March 2009

On March 11-12, 2009, a High Level Segment of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) will nominally be dedicated to the evaluation of the implementation of political declaration and action plans of the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on drugs in 1997. The evaluation started in 2008 and will determine international drug policy for the next decade.

The past meeting of UNGASS, held in June 1998 was a disappointing event. No evaluation of current repressive drug policies took place whatsoever. It was devoted to, as a New York Times editorial phrased it, "recycling unrealistic pledges" including the slogan ‘A drug-free world we can do it’ (this was meant to happen, somewhat optimistically by 2008) Read more about the pledges and proceedings of the 1998 UNGASS meeting.

The Open Society Institute has created the following video to highlight some of the disastrous effects of drug policy in recent years. The film emphasises that pursuing a ‘drug free world’ can lead to more harm than good. The video can be watched here.

Transform has three calls for the UN:

  • A year-long moratorium on strategic drug policy commitments at the global level
  • A full impact analysis of the ‘unintended consequences’ of the drug control system to feed into a genuine review in 2010
  • A commission to explore alternatives to the failed war on drugs

Media attention around the story to date includes the following, which mainly focuses on the tension between the US and Europe over the inclusion of harm reduction language in the next strategy:

We will report on developments in Vienna over the next couple of weeks in more detail (please keep an eye on our blog here) however we are hoping that this may yet prove to be a watershed moment for the UN, with members states and civil society finding some consensus on the reality that we cannot continue with the same failed policy and control infrastructure for ever. Hopefully the conflict and tensions currently engulfing the UN drug agencies will eventually lead to more rational and mature evaluation of past failings, and debate on policy alternatives.

For detailed updates on Vienna Un activities check the CND blog here: www.CNDblog.org

Guinea Bissau – Turmoil as President and Head of Army are assassinated

The African ‘nacro-state’ of Guinea Bissau was plunged into turmoil at the beginning of March with the murder of the elected president and the head of army. It seems inevitable that political de-stability fuelled by illicit drug profits played a roll in these assignations, as the country is now the main transit point for Colombian cartels smuggling cocaine into Europe. Gwynne Dyers wrote some interesting analysis of the story, which can be read here.

Latin America leaders urge drug policy reform

The Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, convened by former presidents Fernando Cardoso of Brazil, Cesar Gaviria of Colombia and Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico in order to evaluate the impacts of the 'war on drugs', released a statement last month saying that prohibition has failed and calling for a 'broad debate about alternative strategies'.

They argue that:

'Prohibitionist policies based on eradication of production.... [and] criminalization of consumption have not yielded the desired results.'

The commission calls for an open and honest debate on drug policy arguing that:

‘Current drug repression policies are firmly rooted in prejudices, fears and ideological visions. The whole issue has become taboo, which inhibits public debate…. The way forward lies in acknowledging the insufficient results of current policies and, without dismissing the immense efforts undertaken, launching a broad debate about alternative strategies.’

The report from the commission can be read here

Although it would have been welcomed to see some of the proposed policies explored in more detail, this report is a positive indicator that policy climate change is starting to happen in South America and we hope that it will set the tone for more pragmatic and critical engagement in the future.

Reuters have recently compiled a timeline of the events in the US war on drugs in Latin America which makes for an interesting read

UK News

Ecstasy reclassification

'Parliament is revelling in moral grandstanding and populist posturing by eschewing the science on ecstasy. Truth is always the first casualty in any war, including the war on drugs. Given that the Government overruled the ACMD on cannabis classification, and has made it clear that whatever the evidence ecstasy’s classification won’t change, this entire exercise was doomed before it began.' Transform Press Release

The whole sorry ecstasy reclassification debacle came to its conclusion this month with the ACMD recommending a move to B, the Home Secretary saying no, sorry, it’s staying in A, and without any debate at all over whether the ABC harm ranking/hierarchy of criminal penalties system is a good idea or not.

The Press Coverage around the story was extensive (with Transform frequently at the heart of the action) with highlights including:

And from the pro-drug war advocates, for balance (and some reassurance)

So with the Government ignoring the evidence of their own expert scientific committee again, what the future holds for the ACMD (Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs) remains to be seen. What we can be sure of though is that the Government’s claims to evidence-based policy making have never seemed more ridiculous with populist drug war posturing rarely being so embarrassingly blatant.

Danny can be heard on the Five Live breakfast show in debate with Ian Johnston from the Chief Superintendents Association here. We’d like to thank Derek and UKCIA for so kindly saving this clip for us.

Transform News

Transform Mini-blog

Transform now has a ‘mini-blog’ (which can be found in the right side bar of the main blog). This contains a plethora of interesting links posted up by staff. Information included on the mini-blog ranges from supportive news reports to drug war lunacy. The Transform mini-blog is updated most days so we’d strongly recommend that you take a look, if you’d like to stay up to date on drug policy.

Event - Reefer Madness The Musical

Reefer Madness the Musical is coming to town! The show offers a night of musical entertainment and comedy with this satire of the infamous 1936 black-and-white propaganda film of the same name. More about the show can be found on their website here.

Come and discover the fascinating history of drugs propaganda and see how it has affected everything from government policy to Daily Mail headlines in a discussion following the Saturday Matinee (with Transform’s Steve Rolles, Ben Goldacre author of the Guardian’s Bad Science Column and Mike Jay, author, historian and Transform Trustee). The discussion will be accompanied by a screening of highlights from the original, 1936 Reefer Madness and the audience is welcome to field questions.

Saturday 28th March, 4.30pm, Bridewell Theatre

Entrance is free of charge for Reefer Madness matinee audience - CLICK HERE to book your matinee ticket and secure a place at this exciting event.

Are you a student interested in drug policy reform?

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact drug abuse has on our communities, but also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and society. SSDP mobilises and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counterproductive Drug War policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth.

For students interested in getting involved in the campaign for drug law reform please email levent.akbulut@ssdp.org.uk.

Calling all E-bay Fanatics

Transform is now set up as a registered charity on e-bay so that you can donate a slice of your sales to us. All you have to do, is list your item to sell as normal (using ‘Advanced Sell’), you can then select Transform Drug Policy Foundation and chose the % that you wish to donate to us (please remember to tick the gift aid box – this gets us even more money at no extra cost to you, if you are a UK tax payer). More information on how it works can be found here so please get selling.

If you have any problems please email info@tdpf.org.uk

Special Feature

Ministry of Justice announces new drugs court in Barnsley

One of our volunteers has written the following article about the new drug court in Barnsley:

The Ministry of Justice has announced the commencement of a new dedicated drugs court (DDC). The pilot project was launched at Barnsley Magistrates Court on the 30 th of January this year, and is designed to offer problematic drug users in the criminal justice system a more supportive approach to punishment and rehabilitation.

Drug courts were originally launched at Leeds and West London Magistrates Court in December 2005. Offenders found guilty of low-level offences and where addiction is highlighted as a factor in their offending are offered the opportunity of treatment through punishments such as Community Orders and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRR), as well as working with Probation and having regular drug tests.

Judges and magistrates passing sentence will also continue to see the offender on an ongoing basis as their progress on orders is reviewed. Each DDC encourages closer working between the court and Probation services and with drug treatment providers.

Drugs courts originated in the USA in the late 1980s, and saw an improvement in offender engagement and compliance, and have led to similar set ups starting in several countries. Underpinning the courts is the idea that, by seeing “familiar faces”, offenders are able to form a relationship built on trust and confidence, offering both stability and greater encouragement to offenders, resulting in better engagement with treatment services and criminal justice agencies, a higher completion rate of orders including DRRs and lower offending levels.

The Ministry of Justice announced in April 2008 that the DDC pilot would be extended to four more pilot schemes. An evaluation of the original two courts carried out last year suggested that they saw a reduction in offending, better court attendance and better compliance with sentences. Cardiff, Salford and Bristol will all see dedicated drugs courts arriving later this year.

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