Coletta A Youngers

Coletta A. Youngers is a Senior Fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and Associate at the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC). Follow her on Twitter: @ColettaYoungers

Is the ‘war on drugs’ destroying women’s lives?

Across the world, women are being incarcerated at an alarming rate for drug offences. The vast majority are single mothers, and facing situations of extreme poverty.

By Coletta A Youngers, Nischa Pieris and Margarette May Macaulay

/ 19 May 2016

Why is the UN failing to solve the ‘world drug problem’?

On 19 April, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) meets to find a solution to the failed policies of the ‘war on drugs’. Our specialist roundtable discusses why the preparatory negotiations have been riddled with problems. Video (7:17).

By Coletta A Youngers, Hannah Hetzer and R Elliott

/ 18 Apr 2016

Women are bearing the brunt of our most punitive drug policies

From Colombia to Thailand, drug policy reforms are urgently needed to end the mass incarceration of women for drug offences. Here’s what we can do about it.

By Coletta A Youngers and Nischa Pieris

/ 15 Mar 2016