The video interview with INCB President Raymond Yans, posted on 12 October 2013, is a relatively rare public insight into the thinking of the INCB on cannabis policy reform at a time of considerable internal UN turmoil on the question.
A study conducted by FIOCRUZ, found that crack cocaine and similar drugs are used by approximately 370,000 people in the capitals and the DC, what constitutes an important health and social problem.
Issues addressed included those related to the situation and efforts related to countering drug trafficking, legislative measures and administrative policies of drug and chemical control, issues related to opiate availability in palliative care, and the provision of drug treatment and prevention services.
The governments of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico all called for developing more effective responses to drug trafficking based on promoting public health, respect for human rights and harm reduction.
Years of grassroots advocacy on pain management and the lack of opioid analgesics spurred the AU to invite the INCB to advise on how the global drug control treaties could serve to ensure availability of narcotic drugs for medical and scientific requirements.
This is a brief account of the INCB's visit to Malaysia in September, where it met with the AADK and NGOs to discuss Cure and Care centres and other drug policy issues in the country.
A coalition of Thai NGOs asked the government to decriminalise kratom and support more research into its pharmacology and its potential as a substitute in the treatment of dependence.
The 8th Thailand National Conference on Substance Abuse covered current debates such as the voluntary, community-based treatment, the trends of drug use in the country or the decriminalisation of kratom.
Links between HIV and overdose are close and overdose prevention programmes help to strengthen HIV programmes and prevent the spread of HIV among people who inject drugs.
