Csete, J., Kamarulzaman, A., Kazatchkine, M., Altice, F., Balicki, M., Buxton, J., Cepeda, J., Comfort, M., Goosby, E., Goulão, J., Hart, C., Kerr, T., Lajous, A. M., Lewis, S., Martin, N., Mejía, D., Camacho, A., Mathieson, D., Obot, I., Ogunrombi, A., … Beyrer, C. (2016). Public health and international drug policy. Lancet (London, England), 387(10026), 1427–1480. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00619-X 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27021149/ 

This resource explores the health impacts of drug policies through an international perspective. The authors conclude that policies meant to prohibit or greatly suppress drugs are vigorously defended by many policymakers as necessary to preserve public health and safety. However, this creates a paradox, where evidence suggests these policies have contributed directly and indirectly to lethal violence, communicable disease transmission, discrimination, forced displacement, unnecessary physical pain, and the undermining of people’s right to health. This is a good resource for anyone interested in learning more about the international drug policies to inform future policies on opioid treatment. 

Bottom Line: Policies prohibiting drugs that are believed by some policymakers to increase public health and safety may actually be contributing to public health and safety concerns.