President Santos: Society Loses When It Locks Addicts in Prison
President Santos: Society Loses When It Locks Addicts in Prison
The outgoing president of Colombia takes a frank look at the failed "War on Drugs" and maps a way forward.
More than a century ago, in 1912, representatives from countries around the world signed the International Opium Convention, aiming to curb the abuse of opium, cocaine and other illicit substances. Fifty years later, in 1961, the United Nations adopted the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, establishing a global framework for the control and prohibition of psychoactive substances. In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared a War on Drugs.
After more than 106 years of head-on battle, we must now assess, with brutal honesty, where we stand. The conclusion will not be positive. Drugs...
Read this article on the Americas Quarterly website. | Subscribe to AQ.