Opium & opioids

News10 February 2025

The influence of colonialism on the pain relief access abyss

Ensuring access to opioid pain relief requires tackling colonial legacies and restrictive policies that push millions into preventable suffering.

Publications7 November 2024

Prioritizing opioid settlement funds for overdose prevention centers in the US

D4DPR argues that money from opioid litigation settlements should also be used for overdose prevention centres to mitigate future death and mortality and improve the quality of life for those who use drugs.

Events

Geneva course on drug policy, public health, and diplomacy

Geneva, Switzerland / Online

27 January 2025 - 30 January 2025

A new course hosted online and in person at the University of Geneva will explore current events and evolving perspectives around international drug policy and controlled substances.

News16 October 2024

Australia: ‘People are dying’: Rise of nitazenes should be treated as pandemic, injecting centre head says

In light of the grave threats posed by nitazenes in Australia, experts call for political support and scaling-up of drug checking services to reduce fatalities.

News2 October 2024

Why drug overdose deaths in the US are dropping fast

Provisional data shows a 10.6% decrease in overdose deaths, and scaled-up public health and harm reduction efforts could be a contributing factor.

Publications26 September 2024

Trouble in Afghanistan’s opium fields: The Taliban's war on drugs

The International Crisis Group warns of devastating effects for impoverished farmers impacted by the Taliban's new anti-narcotics campaign and opium ban, and calls for economic support.

Events

Youth Rise presents the report “Catalysts for change: youth-driven insights in opioid harm reduction”

Online

11 September 2024 - 12 September 2024

Youth Rise disseminate key findings from their Catalysts for Change Report, examining qualitative data from 8 countries which highlight the challenges and needs of young people who use opioids, and support rights-based harm reduction approaches.

Publications12 August 2024

FTIR spectrometer testing of the substance sold as ‘Kush’ in retail drug markets, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau

GI-TOC sheds light on the contents of 'kush' samples (which include synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes), potential supply routes and health responses.

News14 June 2024

Fentanyl exposure: myths, misconceptions, and the media

This report documents misreporting on fentanyl exposure, highlights its negative consequences, and offers tips for good approaches.

Publications30 May 2024

IDPC contribution to the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats

IDPC recommends improving data collection, prioritising health-based responses, reviewing drug policy frameworks and ensuring robust civil society engagement.

News6 May 2024

Thailand allows use of opium, magic mushrooms for medical purposes, research

Thailand's Public Health Minister backs easing restrictions on medical use of opium and psilocybin but maintains position on cannabis and hemp extracts

News25 April 2024

New York City’s overdose prevention centers: data from the first year of supervised consumption services

Overdose prevention centres in New York City show promising outcomes but continue to face challenges related to policing, legislation and funding.

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