A Virulent Outbreak of Rational Thought

A detailed look at the IDPC and drug reform policy from the UK. From Charles Shaw of "Exile Nation" on openDemocracy.net.

The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), a global network of NGOs and professional networks that specialize in issues related to the production and use of controlled drugs, recently published the first edition of their Drug Policy Guide aimed at national policymakers. This visionary group was initiated by the vanguard Beckely Foundation and is being managed by Release, a UK legal advisory group for drugs and human rights that provides free & confidential counsel to public and professional policymakers. IDPC received funding and assistance from the European Commission's Drug Prevention & Information Programme.

The Drug Policy Guide "brings together global evidence and best practices on the design and implementation of drug policies and programs at national level" by showcasing "a growing number of policy and program options available to address the harms that are associated with drug markets and drug use."

The IDPC operates from five fundamental principles:

1. Drug Policy Decisions Should be More Informed by the Best Available Evidence
2. Drug Policies Should Shift Focus and Priority from Reducing the Scale of the Drug Market to Reducing its Negative Consequences
3. Efforts to Reduce the Supply of Drugs Should Not Focus on the Punishment of Growers
4. Efforts to Reduce the Demand for Drugs Should Not Focus on The Punishment Of Users
5. The UN System Should Develop a More Co-ordinated and Cohesive approach to Drug Policy Issues