Lancet Commission on Public Health and International Drug Policy | Center for Public Health and Human Rights

Commission Leads: Chris Beyrer, Joanne Csete, Adeeba Kamalruzaman, Michel Kazatchkine, Susan Sherman

Johns Hopkins University and the Lancet have convened a Commission on Drug Policy, a group of health research experts who have developed a ground-breaking report on public health aspects of policy, law and law enforcement related to illicit drugs. The Commission’s work will help mobilize the voice of health professionals in debates surrounding the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on the world drug problem.

Principal Objectives:

To add to the body of scientific evidence on public health consequences of good drug policy and ill-conceived drug policy, thus contributing to the case for evidence-based and rights-based drug policy reform.
To disseminate evidence on public health aspects of drug policy to leaders in the field of public health around the world, benefiting from the established readership of the Lancet and its high name recognition and academic credibility.
To empower a selected group of public health experts – including those not previously known for drug policy expertise – as advocates and spokespeople on public health effects of drug policy and drug policy reform in the lead-up to the UNGASS and in the UNGASS on the world drug problem.
To ensure that informed debates take place in the lead-up to and during the UNGASS on public health aspects and health-related human rights aspects of drug policy and drug policy reform.
To provide a lasting volume of scientific evidence and a body of informed spokespeople to contribute to debates and action in the follow-up to the UNGASS.

Funding Source: Open Society Foundations

Publications: Full Report