Our health-led drugs policy has had great results, but the rise of the global illegal drugs trade means we need international solutions, says the mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema
Its solutions were prohibition, criminalisation, stiff penalties and sentences; our national drug policy, on the other hand, focused for decades on reducing the health risks for users – and was relatively successful.
Amsterdam, as an international financial hub, now serves as a marketplace where the demand for drugs is being determined, and negotiations and payments are being made from all over the world.
This leads to social disruption, the deterioration of neighbourhoods, generations of vulnerable young people who will be lured into crime and the undermining of the rule of law.
This will involve a collaborative effort to revisit and potentially revise these treaties, fostering a global environment where innovative, health-centric drug policies can be implemented without legal barriers.
Since the early 1980s, the introduction of harm-reduction facilities in the Netherlands, such as methadone provision and drug-use areas for heroin addicts, has improved their living conditions, health and quality of life while drug nuisance and crime have decreased.
This summer, Switzerland’s capital, Berne, announced trials of legal sales of cocaine, aiming to increase control and preventive measures.
The original article contains 935 words, the summary contains 177 words. Saved 81%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
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Its solutions were prohibition, criminalisation, stiff penalties and sentences; our national drug policy, on the other hand, focused for decades on reducing the health risks for users – and was relatively successful.
Amsterdam, as an international financial hub, now serves as a marketplace where the demand for drugs is being determined, and negotiations and payments are being made from all over the world.
This leads to social disruption, the deterioration of neighbourhoods, generations of vulnerable young people who will be lured into crime and the undermining of the rule of law.
This will involve a collaborative effort to revisit and potentially revise these treaties, fostering a global environment where innovative, health-centric drug policies can be implemented without legal barriers.
Since the early 1980s, the introduction of harm-reduction facilities in the Netherlands, such as methadone provision and drug-use areas for heroin addicts, has improved their living conditions, health and quality of life while drug nuisance and crime have decreased.
This summer, Switzerland’s capital, Berne, announced trials of legal sales of cocaine, aiming to increase control and preventive measures.
The original article contains 935 words, the summary contains 177 words. Saved 81%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!