International Drug Policy

Guest: Joanne Csete, PhD, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of Public Health  A special session of the United Nations General Assembly is about to get underway in New York focused on the “world drug problem.” The last time UN nations met on this topic was 1998 and the theme of the gathering was, “A drug free world – we can do it!” Well, nearly 20 years later, we haven’t done it. Rather, a panel of public health and policy experts from around the world say efforts to eliminate drugs from the world have led to greater violence, overcrowded jails, disease outbreaks and the current opioid overdose epidemic plaguing the United States.  Drug policies meant to protect public health have actually harmed public health, they say.