Decolonizing drug policy

Abstract

This paper reviews evidence of how drug control has been used to uphold colonial power structures in select countries. It demonstrates the racist and xenophobic impact of drug control policy and proposes a path to move beyond oppressive systems and structures. The ‘colonization of drug control’ refers to the use of drug control by states in Europe and America to advance and sustain the systematic exploitation of people, land and resources and the racialized hierarchies, which were established under colonial control and continue to dominate today. Globally, Black, Brown and Indigenous peoples are disproportionately targeted for drug law enforcement and face discrimination across the criminal system. These communities face higher arrest, prosecution and incarceration rates for drug offenses than other communities, such as majority populations, despite similar rates of drug use and selling among (and between) different races. Current drug policies have contributed to an increase in drug-related deaths, overdoses and sustained transnational criminal enterprises at the expense of the lives of people who use drugs, their families and greater society. This review provides further evidence of the need to reform the current system. It outlines a three-pillared approach to rebuilding drug policy in a way that supports health, dignity and human rights, consisting of: (1) the decriminalization of drugs and their use; (2) an end to the mass incarceration of people who use drugs; (3) the redirection of funding away from ineffective and punitive drug control and toward health and social programs.

Everywhere and for everyone: proportionate universalism as a framework for equitable access to community drug checking

“…This is of particular relevance when considering services within Indigenous communities, where there may be policies that prohibit substance use as participants noted. Given the complex historical relationships between criminalization, colonialism, and substance use perpetrated against Indigenous peoples and communities, engagement with Indigenous communities and elders is a critical first step in exploring whether such services are appropriate, and if so, how best to deliver them, while taking into account unmet need from people who identify as Indigenous [ 15 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Decolonizing harm reduction

“…I am reminded of his statements amid growing calls to decolonize drug policy [ 3 ]. On one hand, it cannot be denied that drug policy today—including its most prohibitionist and punitive features—can be traced to colonial drug control regimes [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…I am reminded of his statements amid growing calls to decolonize drug policy [ 3 ]. On one hand, it cannot be denied that drug policy today—including its most prohibitionist and punitive features—can be traced to colonial drug control regimes [ 3 , 4 ]. But how might the attempt to decolonize drug policy in these terms resonate with how drug policy has been viewed vis-a-vis colonialism in postcolonial states like the Philippines?…”

“…Thus, alongside the recommendations offered by Daniels et al (2021) and their call for “decriminalization, decarceration, divestment and redirection” [ 3 ], here are some of the steps that we can take toward this direction:…”

Untitled

“…Prohibitionism and the control exercised over bodies and racialized people who use drugs become modes of punishment and perpetuation of violence, objectifying such individuals as targets to be marginalized. Considering the principles of harm reduction with drug using communities, and as Daniels et al (2021) emphasize, this global war on drugs based on racism and colonialism, should be replaced by strategies based on science, health, and social equity. Thus, it is impossible to take harm reduction without a critical look at the racialization of substance abuse, of the judicial and incarceration systems, of the disparities in access to housing, documentation, health and social services.…”