The Drug & Criminal Justice Policy Forum

The global illicit drug trade exists on the order of half a trillion dollars a year while an estimated 250 million people use illicit drugs. Drug offenses in the US and UK are at record levels: ten million Americans are presently in the US Criminal Justice system, more than any other society, while 2.4 million people are employed keeping them there, more than Wal-Mart and McDonald's combined, America's two largest private employers. This system consumes $212 billion a year, and has spent over 1 Trillion since its inception, yet still there is no notable decrease in either usage or supply. It begs the question: Is the war on drugs working? Edited by Charles Shaw and supported by the Tedworth Trust , the openDemocracy Drug & Criminal Justice Policy Forum will frame the stories of drug policy and criminal justice reform, and bring the human arguments into the policy agenda. From the street corner to the poppy field, we will present an ongoing dialogue that focuses on the various issues regarding prohibition and crafting a saner international drug & criminal justice policy, and more importantly, culture.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of February 7th 2011

It gives me great pleasure to lead our report this week with news of the world premiere of "The Exile Nation Project: An Oral History of the War on Drugs & the American Criminal Justice System.” Written, produced and directed by our very own Charles Shaw, the film is the culmination of several months work creating an oral history that puts a human face on the millions of American's subjugated by the US Government's 40 year, one trillion dollar social catastrophe: The War on Drugs ~ MW & CS

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 31st 2011

We lead this week with promising news of a new Global Commission on Drug Policies, led by world political leaders, intellectuals and businessmen including Richard Branson, in an effort to achieve more human and rational drug laws.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 24th 2011

We lead this week's report with news of the disquieting appointment to the ACMD of Dr Raabe, an anti-harm reduction proponent with disturbing views on homosexuality. The Government have traditionally ignored the medical and scientific evidence on this key issue of social policy, and such an appointment will serve only to further a general lack of confidence in its ability to make informed evidential decisions ~ MW & CS

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 17th 2011

We lead this week's Report with an HCLU study on the risks related to blood borne and sexually transmitted infections and drug use in the Hungarian prison system, based on interviews with formerly incarcerated injecting drug users. Also in this week's edition, news from Ireland where Sinn Fein have initiated an evidence based approach to drug policy; and some short films from Denmark, the Czech Republic and Mexico ~ MW & CS

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of January 3rd 2011

We lead this weeks report with news that CVS, the largest operator of pharmacies in the United States, agreed to pay the federal government a $75 million fine for narcotics violations, the largest cash money penalty in the 40-year history of the Controlled Substances Act ~ CS & MW

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 27th, 2010

We lead this first report of 2011 with a look back at the top stories of last year - a year which saw; the continuation of the Mexican tragedy; the failure to confront widespread Afghani opium production; and a rising clamour for a new paradigm and an end to drug prohibition. We look forward to keeping you up to date with all the latest developments in drug policy and criminal justice reform in 2011 ~ MW & CS

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 20th, 2010

We lead this weeks report with news of a petition to stop the abusive treatment of prisoners in Georgia and support the demands of the Georgia Prisoners Strike.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 13th 2010

This week we lead with news of an horrific abuse of power by undercover narcotics agents which saw the unlawful killing of an innocent 92 year old woman and attempt to cover up the crime. The Report also discusses US prison reform, the new UK Government Drug Strategy with analysis from some of the key stakeholders, and includes a groundbreaking new UKDPC report about the stigmatisation of drug users ~ CS & MW

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of December 6th 2010

This week, we lead with news of the MAPS Conference, taking place this weekend in Los Angeles and featuring openDemocracy's very own Charles Shaw among a long list of celebrated speakers and artists. This is followed by an inspired article by friend of the Drug Policy Forum, John Sinclair, who discusses the 'correctional economy' and Charles' book, 'Exile Nation'. ~ MW

Exile Nation in London

Video (in three parts) of Charles Shaw's presentation as part of openDemocracy's "Who's Addicted to the War on Drugs?" which took place on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 in London.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 29th 2010

Welcome to the latest Front Line Report - our largest yet - bringing you a collection of stories from across the globe, from national and international news and media outlets and UN agencies. This week we continue our documentary updates from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union's Drug Reporter site, with a moving film about drug detention centres in Asia - 'Abuse in the name of Treatment'. We also bring you an Al Jazeera report on Whoonga, a 'tragic step backwards' in the fight against HIV ~ MW & CS

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 22nd 2010

This weeks front line report covers a broad ground, from news of the Subtance Misuse Consortium in the UK working to drive treatment standards up; the relationship between hepitatitis C, substance misuse and health equality; a 20 fold increase in the number of users criminalized in Ukraine; and the start of our regular showcasing of films from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union. We lead though with a news of a considered documentary film, 'Marijauna - A Chronic History?'

A life in free fall: a Russian drug addict's story (2)

In Russia drug addicts are seen as scum: the sooner they die, the better. In this second part of her story Irina tells of her life after prison. What will she make of it? What, if any, support will she get from friends, relations or state bodies?

A life in free fall: a Russian drug addict's story (1)

Irina Teplinskaya was born with every advantage. But when she started taking drugs, there was no effective help to be had. She tells the harrowing story of her life as an addict: driven to crime, in and out of prison camps and hospitals, but fighting all the way for her right to treatment.

oD Drug Policy Forum: Front Line Report - Week of November 15th 2010

We lead this week with our very own Charles Shaw, and an eloquent piece written for today's Guardian Society about the "madness" that is the war on drugs, and what US policymakers can learn from their European partners.

Follow Charles Shaw on Twitter

Charles Shaw on Twitter

Follow Charles Shaw, author of the Exile Nation Project, on Twitter

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