The Harms of Prohibitionism and the Urgency to Rethink DrugPolicies in the Region

Abstract

The drugs phenomenon must be analyzed taking into account a variety of relevant dimensions and problems in the field of health, in terms of human rights, security policies, democracy, and development. As we get closer to 60 years of prohibitionist policies, it is difficult to find reasons to explain the persistence of the drug policies in Argentina and in the world. Most of the countries continue to be trapped in drug policies that amplify damage and suffering in populations, that violate people's rights and reduce state capacities and that find as the main response (and in some places exclusively), incarceration of population groups. The article is structured as follows: first, the current regulatory framework on drugs described, then, the situation of consumption practices and the indicators of the current paradigm in drug policies are analyzed. As a conclusion, contributions are presented for a drug policy based on prevention, harm reduction, and health care.