International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.

Overdose Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable. Wear Silver to show your support.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

International Overdose Awareness Day 2016

A warm welcome to our 5th International Palliative Care Conference in Africa, co-hosted in Kampala from August 16-19 by the African Palliative Care Association and the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance.

The conference theme, “Hospice and Palliative Care: Resolution to Action” echoes our vision to disseminate ideas and research evidence for how to move to action faster and more effectively in wake of the 2014 World Health Assembly Resolution on palliative care.

While these commitments were made at the global and national levels, it is now time to look at what is happening on the ground and determine how we can increase action on the resolution.

At the conference, we will examine the evidence closely. While recognising different contexts, we will focus on learning in all directions highlighting where practitioners have got it right so far and the challenges they face --whether that is in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe or the Middle East.

We are committed to practical outputs on how this resolution can be used to significantly increase the quality of life of patients and their families all around the world.

We need to join together, share and learn from each other to ensure patients on our watch receive services that reflect the dignity and quality of life that match their worth. The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance and the African Palliative Care Association look forward to welcoming you to Kampala.

For more information, please visit the conference website.

5th International African Palliative Care Conference

PANEL PRESENTATION AND QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Chief Constable Mike Barton joined Lancashire Constabulary in 1980 and in 2008 he joined Durham Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable. He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable and then Chief Constable in February 2013. He has attracted a degree of media attention through his advocacy for a ‘grown up’ debate on drugs challenging the efficacy of outright prohibition. He believes that people with substance use issues should be treated and supported into 

, not criminalised. He is a huge supporter and active champion of recovery.

Kirstie Douse is head of Legal Services at Release, the national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law. Release believe in a just and fair society where drug policies should reduce the harms associated with drugs, and where those who use drugs are treated based on principles of human rights, dignity and equality.

Fiona Gilbertson is a co founder of Recovering Justice and is in long term recovery. She believes that the fundamental way to tackle stigma and discrimination is through policy change. People need rights not concessions.

Suzanne Sharkey is a spokesperson for LEAP UK -Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. LEAP is made up of current and former members of the law enforcement and criminal justice communities who are speaking out about the failures of our existing drug policies. Suzanne was a Police Officer for 5 years as an undercover drugs buyer. She is also in long term recovery from problematic substance misuse.

Jane Slater has worked at Transform since 2007. She now leads the Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control campaign, a network of families whose lives have been wrecked by the current approach to drugs and are now campaigning for the legal control and regulation of drugs.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.

How do we help create peace after the war on drugs?

This year sees the first ever World Health Organization’s Global Elimination Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, which outlines a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

To mark this momentous occasion, the WHD2016 theme is elimination. The theme of elimination runs across various activities including treatment, prevention, awareness, tackling stigma etc. To reach elimination, we need a unified approach amongst patients, policymakers, public and medical professionals.

NOhep, a global elimination movement, will be launched on WHD2016 to bring people together and provide a platform for people to speak out, be engaged and take action to ensure global commitments are met and viral hepatitis is eliminated by 2030.

On WHD2016, we are calling on all people to taking actions to eliminate viral hepatitis.Download the toolkit for more info on how to get involved in WHD and to find out more about NOhep.

In this recording of the webinar, you will also hear more about the launch of NOhep, a movement to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, and how you can get involved on WHD.

World Hepatitis Day 2016 (WHD2016)

Formation of the West Africa Drug Commission and Support from the Corridors of Power (Dr. Idrissa Ba)

Gendered Lens of Harm Reduction and Women who Inject drugs (Fatma Jeneby)

Harm Reduction Introduction and Integration in Tanzania (Dr. Omary Ubuguyu)

The Double-Edged Sword of the Harn Reduction Movement in Mauritius (Kunal Naik)

Introducing Harn Reduction to South Africa: Programs, Policy and Policing (Shaun Shelly)

Joining the Dots: Harm Reduction in Africa

New research using psychedelic drugs to understand the brain could lead to new treatments for mental disorders such as depression. Dr Robin Carhart-Harris will describe his research with these unusual compounds, which includes the first ever functional brain imaging studies with LSD and magic mushrooms and the first clinical trial of magic mushrooms in patients with treatment resistant depressive disorder.

Psychedelics in Science & Medicine - guest lecture by Dr Robin Carhart-Harris

The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic. It is a chance to assess where we are, evaluate recent scientific developments and lessons learnt, and collectively chart a course forward.

The AIDS 2016 programme will present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing the global response to HIV. A variety of session types – from abstract-driven presentations to symposia, bridging and plenary sessions – will meet the needs of various participants. Other related activities, including the Global Village, satellite symposia, the Exhibition and affiliated independent events, will contribute to an exceptional opportunity for professional development and networking.

IDPC will be involved in several sessions during the Conference:

UNGASS 2016: HIV/AIDS and Unsafe Drug Use: Public Health and International Drug Policy

Wednesday 20th July - 11:00 – 12:30, organised by IAS and Global Commission on Drug Policy, in Session Room 5

Wednesday 20th July – 1.30pm – 2:30pm, organised by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, in the Human Rights networking zone

Screening with discussion of two Support. Don’t Punish videos - “Voices for drug policy reform from Asia” and “A broad consensus? – It’s time for change”

Thursday 21st July – 12noon, organised by the Drug User Networking Zone in GV and IDPC, in the Harm Reduction networking zone

Click here to find the AIDS 2016 Online Conference Programme

The Urban Futures Centre at Durban University of Technology (UFC@DUT), in partnership with TB/HIV Care Association, and with financial support from ARASA, have organised a networking zone for people who use drugs and harm reduction representatives and organisations to network and share ideas and experiences. There will also be harm reduction commodities available, including an NSP. For the conference-related harm reduction services, click here. A 

 to PWUD, drug policy and harm reduction events can be downloaded in Excel or PDF version.

As part of the activities taking place in the 

, the Support. Don't Punish. campaign is hosting a film screening event in Booth 612 on Thursday, 21 July (12h00 - 14h00). The documentary Support. Don’t Punish. Voices from Asia. presents the experiences of health practitioners, development experts, people who use drugs and officials in dealing with drug use in India, Myanmar and Thailand. They explain why there is an urgent need to end the criminalisation, punishment and stigma against people who use drugs and people engaged in illicit crop cultivation for subsistence purposes, and call for drug policies that achieve better outcomes for health, human rights and development. The short video A broad consensus? It’s time for change. is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of the state of the international consensus on key drug policy issues. The screening will be followed by an interactive discussion led by Ann Fordham (IDPC) and Suhendro Sugiharto (PKNI).

21st International HIV/AIDS Conference (AIDS2016)

Join us for the next live event for the Stop and Search podcast with the Distraction Pieces Network, under Acast and in association with LEAP UK.

On this month’s panel we’re discussing how drugs invade our culture and become ingrained within the entertainment world. From Trainspotting to The Wire, Breaking Bad to Layer Cake, we can’t get enough of drugs on our screens and in our books.

Drugs: That's Entertainment!

Apply to attend or speak at the President of the UN General Assembly's High-level Thematic Debate on Human Rights

1 June - Apply for civil society Selection Committee

7 June - Apply for civil society speaking roles

The President of the United Nations General Assembly will convene, on 12-13 July 2016, a High-level Thematic Debate (HLTD) on Human Rights. In light of the 50 th anniversary of the international human rights covenants and the process to select and appoint the next United Nations Secretary-General, the HLTD will be an opportunity to:

* take an overarching view of the current human rights situation in our world today

* consider the foundations for human rights and identify what actions are needed to unleash rapid improvement in the promotion and protection of human rights globally; an

* highlight the United Nations' role in this area and how action to realize human rights can contribute to progress on peace and security and sustainable development.

The main areas of focus of the Thematic Debate will be

* Combatting discrimination and inequalities

* Strengthening governance, the rule of law and access to justice; an

* Enabling active participation in society

At the request of the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs NGO Branch (UN-DESA/NGOB) are facilitating a process to identify two civil society speakers, and all civil society attendees for this event.

Using the form at this link, you may apply to speak at or attend this event.

Travel funding will be available for at least one of the selected speakers.

Click to apply for the civil society Selection Committee for this event.

UN PGA's High-level Thematic Debate on Human Rights

Come along to an event by Anyone's Child: Families for Safer Drug Control, a group of families whose lives have been torn apart because of our disastrous drug law. Hear why they and others are now campaigning for a new approach, one that treats drugs as a health issue, rather than a crime, and takes the trade out of the hands of street dealers and violent gangs.

There will also be a Q&A with the speakers:

Anne-Marie Cockburn, from Oxford, mother of 15 year-old Martha, who tragically died due to a drugs overdose.

Neil Woods from Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), who served as an undercover drugs officer for 14 years.

Jane Slater, Coordinator of the 'Anyone's Child Families for Safer Drug Control' campaign.

Drugs can be dangerous. But does banning them cause more harm than good?

By International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy

After the UNGASS: Human rights in the era of drug reform

*Early enrolment discounts available now*

University of Essex summer school, 4-5 July 2016

Drug control is a neglected and under-researched human rights theme despite the scale of human rights abuses occurring in its name each year. The relationship between international human rights law and international drug control law is therefore a significant issue for human rights activists and scholars, yet to date it has largely gone unaddressed. In recent years, advocates have begun to use the tools provided by international human rights law as means to close this gap. However, the current scope of work addressing human rights and drug policy remains too narrow to shift the paradigm of international drug control away from its current punitive approach and towards one grounded in human rights.

The Essex Summer School on Human Rights and Drug Policy, organised by the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy, provides the core legal foundations of human rights and drug control, presents tools to undertake research, introduces the political landscape of policy reform and provides an in-depth discussion on some of the most crucial human rights issues emerging at the dawn of this new era of drug reform.

Topics will include overviews of legal, historical and political foundations of drug control; a child rights framework for drug control; coercion, incarceration and the role of non-State actors; global perspectives on drug reform and sustainable development, with a focus on power asymmetries, inequality and poverty; engaging and understanding UN institutional arrangements and challenges for human rights and drug policy. It is an essential course for postgraduate students interested in emerging human rights themes, academics, human rights professionals, and officials from public health institutions, government and international organisations.

The teaching team will include some of the leading practitioners advancing human rights scholarship and advocacy within the framework of drug reform. More details will follow, but confirmed lecturers include:

, Visiting Fellow, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex; Executive Director, Harm Reduction International; Chair, International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy

, Visiting Fellow, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex and Co-Founder/Director of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy; Stockholm University

, Human Rights Centre and Co-Director of the International Centre on Human Rights and Drug Policy, University of Essex

, Co-Founder and Researcher, Dejusticia; Independent Expert, UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

, Director of the Global Drug Policy Observatory, Swansea University

, Deputy Director, International Harm Reduction Development Programme

, Senior Advisor, Accountable Governance; Christian Aid

Spaces are limited and early enrolment discounts are available now. For application details, please click here.

Summer school: The promotion and protection of human rights in the era of drug reform

The Drugs Crisis has it all; crime, torture, capital punishment, human rights violations, Cold War echoes, missed Sustainable Development Goals, rival interpretations of international law and escalating HIV and overdose deaths. The UN’s three drug conventions are both revered and reviled. The UN General Assembly accelerated its review process, aiming to tackle the crisis with a special session in April. Some call its Outcome Document a human rights 'win', others claim they were excluded from the debate. Some countries called for drugs to be decriminalised or legally regulated - saying that major countries remain in denial. So will some of these now walk away?

Our expert speakers will help you make sense of one of the UN’s most intractable challenges.

Where: Room 4a - House of Lords, London, SW1A 0PW

Drug Policy Reform All Party Parliamentary Group

 International Doctors for Healthier Drugs Policies

Past Events