OAS Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Scenarios for the drug problem in the Americas 2013 – 2025 / by the Scenario Team appointed by the Organization of American States under the mandate given to the OAS by the Heads of Government of Member States meeting at the 2012 Summit of the Americas in Cartagena de Indias. p. ; cm. (OAS official records series) ISBN 978-0-8270-5987-0 Drug abuse--America. 2. Drug control--America. 3. Drug traffic--America. 4. Drug addiction--America. I. Organization of American States. Scenario Team. II. Organization of American States. Secretariat for Multidimensional Security.

OEA/Ser.D/XXV.3 SCENARIOS FOR THE DRUG PROBLEM IN THE AMERICAS 2013 – 2025

by the Scenario Team appointed by the Organization of American States under the mandate given to the OAS by the Heads of Government of Member States Meeting at the 2012 Summit of the Americas in Cartagena de Indias Secretary General José Miguel Insulza We, the region’s leaders, held an invaluable discussion on the global drug problem. We agreed on the need to analyze the results of the current policy in the Americas and to explore new approaches to strengthen this struggle and to become more effective. We have issued the OAS a mandate to that end.

– Chair of the Sixth Summit of the Americas, Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, President of the Republic of Colombia, Cartagena de Indias, April 15, 2012

2013 – 2025 Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios Contributors Declaration by Secretary General of the OAS, Declaration by Secretary General José Miguel Insulza What Scenarios Are About Common Terms The Drug Problem in the Americas: Introduction to the Scenarios Comparison of the Scenarios The Scenarios Together Pathways Resilience Disruption 9 25 39 53 65 73 11 13 17 23 Contents

2013 – 2025 9 - - - - - Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios

be taken by our Heads of State and Government. The Scenarios The Government. and State of Heads by our taken be hemispheric a new to a path up open should Report Analytical and dialogue on how to act. set of scenarios of what is possible – a credible, clear, and hon and clear, – a credible, is possible of what of scenarios set relevant are that scenarios with developed, be should report est could that decisions to relation in challenging, yet plausible, and are committed to engaging one hundred per cent in this work. are committed to engaging one hundred per cent in this work. a build is to Team, Scenarios you, the from then we need What Naturally, we couldn’t include them all, but we think that with the with that we think but all, them include couldn’t we Naturally, a assembled have we here, gathered are who people of dozens group of significant, relevant, and knowledgeable individuals who the Heads of State and Government. the best people. we sought scenarios, of creating For the task hemisphere’s leaders to find a better way to address these chal a to ourselves marry to job our nor duty our neither It is lenges. to up is That scenario. single a choose to or option policy single lenges; and a set of scenarios about what might happen in the in happen might what about scenarios of set a and lenges; The scenario. each in expected be could that results the and future the assist to is Scenarios the and Report Analytical the of purpose For this, the Summit of Heads of State and Government in Carta and Government of State of Heads Summit the For this, analytical an documents: two produce to mandate us a gave gena chal policy and practices, best trends, current at look to report aspects. been successful and is not working well enough. And third, we third, And enough. well is not working and successful been all ceasing without alternatives, better and new mix and find must different its in focus current our enrich can that doing, are we that its impact on public health and the cost incurred by States, and by States, incurred cost the and health public on impact its Second, it brings. that of violence amount tremendous the with has not results, important some beyond approach, current the that the Leaders and Heads of State and Government reached signifi is problem drug the that concepts: basic on some consensus cant with hemisphere, the facing challenges most important of the one This meeting originated in the last Summit of the Americas, where Americas, the of Summit last the in originated meeting This José Miguel Insulza José Miguel City 2013, Panama 20 January General of the OAS General Declaration by Secretary by Secretary Declaration

2013 – 2025 11

------happen (policy happen Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios should happen over the coming years coming the over happen relevant, challenging, credible, challenging, relevant, could happen (forecasts) or what will in order to be useful in strategic conversations of leaders conversations in strategic to be useful in order

clear

system can be a government, city, sector, community, nation, or nation, community, city, sector, be a government, system can discover what can and must be done. The most fruitful dialogues fruitful The most must be done. and can what discover of this kind involve a representative group of interested and influ (This question. in system whole the across all from actors ential policy and strategy through the use of scenario-based dialogues. use of scenario-based the through strategy and policy of the construction is not to redo of such dialogues The purpose to written are as they scenarios the use to rather but scenarios, the future, we can work with and influence it. More specifically, scenarios are used to support the formation of cal advantage of supporting informed debate without committing without debate informed of supporting advantage cal us to enable Scenarios position. policy to any particular anyone the control or predict cannot we although that reality the with deal they are stories – that is, fictions – and because they come in sets in come they because and – fictions is, that – stories are they politi the they offer stories, plausible different, or more of two drug problem in the Americas? Because planning. in strategic role a very particular play Scenarios search for answers to core questions of drug policy and strategy: and policy drug of questions core to answers for search facing? be we could and we are challenges and opportunities What to the respond do to better we shall What our options? are What and language to support dialogue, debate, and decision-making and debate, dialogue, support to language and across and within actors, other and Government of Heads among constructive and an open to support intended They are countries. and Amer the in drugs of problems the address to ways best the about framework a common is to provide stories of the purpose The icas. These very different stories of the possible evolution of the cur the of evolution possible the of stories different very These be to intended are situation rent by a team of leading experts; and on a set of interviews of 75 a set of interviews on and experts; of leading by a team former and current including Hemisphere, the across from leaders Heads of Government. the Americas, gathered together for two meetings of intense con of intense two meetings for together gathered Americas, the own diverse on their based scenarios four They created versation. prepared Report Analytical an on understandings; and experiences from security, business, health, education, indigenous cultures, in cultures, indigenous education, health, business, security, from poli and society, civil system, justice the organizations, ternational across from officials government current and former including tics, For the construction of these “Scenarios for the Drug Problem in Problem Drug the for “Scenarios these of construction the For individuals outstanding of a team 2013 – 2025,” Americas, the in and around the hemispheric drug ‘system’, based on current on based ‘system’, drug hemispheric the around and in cultural, social, economic, political, relevant including and trends dynamics. and international These scenarios are stories about what could happen in the future future in the happen could what about stories are scenarios These what – not recommendations) but what What Scenarios Are About Are Scenarios What - There are four key steps for this kind of scenario-based dialogue. dialogue. scenario-based of kind this for steps key four are There presentation, slide text, through presented are scenarios First, the ad group the scenario each for Second, video. or storytelling, it would what occurred, scenario this “If question, the dresses the challenges and opportunities the out works us?” and for mean “If this question, the with deals group the poses. Third, scenario have?” we do options What do? we could what occurred, scenario the considers and present the to back steps group the Finally, shall we do next?” these possible futures, what question, “Given region, for example.) Diversity is important – not just friends and and opponents. but also strangers colleagues Shell reach.” —Pierre Wack, co-founder Wack, —Pierre lead to strategic insights that lead to strategic insights

the world of facts and the world of facts and the world the world

of potential strategic significance strategic significance of potential “Scenarios deal with two worlds: with two deal “Scenarios into fresh perceptions, which then perceptions, into fresh gather and transform information transform information gather and were previously beyond the mind’s beyond the mind’s previously were of perceptions. Their purpose is to Their of perceptions. of the scenario team at Royal Dutch of the scenario team

Organization of American States of American Organization 12 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 13 ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios for the unauthorized consumption and consumption unauthorized the for , which occurs when the criminal justice criminal the when occurs , which that penalize the production, distribution, or distribution, production, the penalize that

usefully qualified for the sake of clarity – for example, ‘legalization example, for – clarity of sake the for qualified usefully and regulation’ or ‘free-market legalization’. ended without necessarily imposing strict state controls. It also controls. state strict imposing necessarily without ended commercial control to regulation of regimes to refers sometimes therefore is ‘legalization’ term The distribution. and production ized cal or scientific purposes, generally through replacement ‘liber with associated been often has term The market. regulated with a is drugs certain for prohibition the which in regimes or alization’ The process of eliminating legal prohibitions on the production, on the prohibitions legal of eliminating The process medi than other for substance a controlled use of and distribution, prosecution, or judiciary. • Legalization ency principle (applying a public interest test when deciding about about deciding when test interest a public (applying principle ency non-enforcement of practice the prosecution), criminal for priorities police, to the in directives be formalized can offences of certain tem being overburdened and therefore failing to intervene in minor in intervene to failing therefore and overburdened being tem In behavior. criminal serious more on attention focusing offenses, expedi the on based powers legal discretionary with jurisdictions the power to do so. It is usually a result of the evolution of cus of evolution the of result a so. It is usually do to power the accepted to be socially begins a practice when in a society toms sys justice criminal the of or prohibited, formally being still despite represented by this term, it might be more accurate to speak of speak to accurate more be might it term, by this represented decriminalization facto de lost having formally without action take or operate to fails system Not applying statutes applying Not concept the For extent. fullest the to substance a of consumption criminal or administrative, is applied at all. criminal or administrative, is applied • De-facto legalization for example, fines or community service, or merely a summons or cease use personal for possession and use places In some citation. so no sanction, altogether, or infraction offence to be a punishable use only) of a controlled substance. In a decriminalized incarceration, like sanctions in criminal results no longer act the system, – jurisdictions some in apply still may sanctions administrative but Eliminating criminal penalties penalties criminal Eliminating personal for to be enough small of amounts (typically possession • Decriminalization • Decriminalization Policy Terms Common Terms Common ------

aim to mitigate the negative health, social, and economic conse economic and social, health, negative the mitigate to aim nec without drugs, psychoactive illegal and legal using of quences prin the on based is reduction Harm use. drug reducing essarily supervision, appropriate sanctions, and, when available, rehabilita available, when and, sanctions, appropriate supervision, tion services other than drug treatment. • Drug-dependent offender un a crime commits who and on drugs is dependent who Someone example, (for dependency that to linked or drugs of effect the der driving under the influence, assault, theft). • Harm reduction that and practices programs, to policies, refers reduction’ ‘Harm Someone who violates drug laws – for example, illicit production, illicit example, for – laws drug violates who Someone possession, or trafficking. • Drug Treatment Court of purposes the docket, or calendar court designed specially A problematic and recidivism in reduction a achieve to are which of success likelihood the to increase and offenders use for drug su judicially intense and continual, early, through rehabilitation ful community testing, drug periodic mandatory treatment, pervised Other Terms • Dependent drug use negative despite compulsive and habitual become has Use that health and social effects. • Drug offender trolled drugs legally available for other than medical and scientific to according differs that control state certain under but purposes, in control Administrative substances. various of risks health the con dispensing, pharmacy and prescription include can struments policy taxation distribution, and production for licensing ditioned standards, quality restrictions, age levels, price certain maintain to and so on. from significantly, vary may regulation of intensity and nature The light regulation (for example, caffeine-based drinks) to moderate to and alcohol for frameworks regulatory example, (for regulation opiates). regulation (for example, prescription bacco), to strict • Regulation con to make frameworks of regulatory range to a wide Refers Organization of American States of American Organization 14 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 15 ------illegal per se per , which have , which Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios , which can have both have can , which include the Commission include that govern the control of control the govern that The conventions bodies bodies and controlled substances controlled conventions agency for UN programs. the World Health Organization (WHO), mandated by the treaties to treaties the by mandated (WHO), Organization Health World the and substances, of scheduling the about recommendations make the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as an implementing International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), which monitors the as the as well of the 1961 and 1971 conventions implementation 1988 convention, the under established regime control precursor chotropic Substances (1988). The body, the UN policy-making is the drug Drugs, which on Narcotic gle Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961, as amended by the 1972 by the Drugs (1961, as amended on Narcotic gle Convention and (1971), Substances Psychotropic on Convention the Protocol), Psy and Drugs Narcotic in Traffic Illicit the against Convention the A set of UN of set A worldwide. substances psychoactive UN the Sin include states, member to by all OAS subscribed been • International Drug Control Framework The interception of smuggled drugs by air, land, or sea by security sea or land, by air, drugs smuggled of interception The or waters international in typically enforcement, law and forces zones. • Interdiction essentially limited to medical and scientific purposes. Regulated be con not therefore would and tobacco, alcohol like substances, trolled substances. but they can be illicitly produced or circulating on the illicit market. illicit the on circulating or produced illicitly be can they but is term precise more A are that those are drugs Controlled uses and markets. illicit and licit UN conventions. The distinction between legal and illegal drugs is drugs and illegal legal between The distinction UN conventions. in be many grey areas are made as there not so easily in practice not are themselves substances the In general, tween. • Illicit drugs the in used not is and term legal a than rather popular is a This violence, corruption, or environmental damage, without necessar without damage, or environmental corruption, violence, extent of the market. ily reducing the More recently, the term ‘harm reduction’ is also used to refer to used to refer also is reduction’ ‘harm term the More recently, to related harms the reducing towards priorities policy in changes as drug-related such enforcement, law drug and market illicit the and HIV infection (and other blood-borne diseases) among injecting injecting among diseases) blood-borne other (and infection HIV and also but treatment, substitution and exchange by needle users drug rooms. consumption drug supervised and prescription heroin with of change for reducing the harms of their drug use. The concept use. The drug their of harms the reducing for of change relat harms direct the address to mainly developed originally was overdose of prevention the especially use, drug problematic to ed ciple that drug users, rather than society, are the primary agents agents primary the are society, than rather users, drug that ciple - - - -

The forbidding by criminal law of the unauthorized cultivation, pro cultivation, unauthorized of the law by criminal forbidding The sub psychoactive certain of possession and distribution, duction, or scientific purposes. stances for other than medical forts to prevent drug-related harms such as HIV prevention among HIV prevention as such harms drug-related prevent to forts (rural development’ alternative ‘preventive or users, drug injecting starting illicit cultivation). development in areas at risk of • Problematic drug use health negative to have begins age, or use that Drug use at an early families, friends, or society. or other impacts for individuals, • Prohibition laws, sometimes by modifying chemical structures. “Substances “Substances structures. chemical by modifying laws, sometimes con not are that a preparation, or form a pure in either abuse, of 1971 the Drugs or Narcotic on 1961 Convention by the trolled a pose may which but Substances, Psychotropic on Convention (UNODC). public health threat” • Prevention initiation the delay or discourage to out carried programs to Applies drug to progression the avoid to started, if or, drugs, of use the of often is also ‘prevention’ The term or dependence. use disorders ef prevention, crime example, – for areas policy in related used • New psychoactive substances / ‘designer drugs’ / ‘designer substances • New psychoactive control drug existing to circumvent designed are that Substances Organization of American States of American Organization 16 2013 – 2025 THE DRUG PROBLEM IN THE AMERICAS: INTRODUCTION TO THE SCENARIOS

2013 – 2025 19 - - - - - scenario to scenario Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios disruptive

the most prevalent responses? Will most countries build on the build most countries Will responses? most prevalent the important of a number in progress substantial and effort of years care that they need? will what challenges, these to approaches possible many the Of drugs or perhaps introduce unexpected challenges – or maybe even maybe – or challenges unexpected introduce or perhaps drugs unexpected benefits, such as expanding drug treatment options? the receive use disorder a substance from suffering those How will work, and will they become a part of the overall drug control sys control drug overall the of part a become they will and work, plant-based replace technology or drugs designer new Will tem? prehensively under the policies we have, or will we change policies change we will or have, we policies the under prehensively currently for frameworks regulatory new will How strategies? and countries in certain or implemented discussed being drugs illegal matic and budgetary trade-offs between supply control measures, control supply between trade-offs and budgetary matic from interventions reduction and demand frameworks, regulatory com more be pursued And will supply control to country? country and unpunished in most countries throughout the hemisphere? Will hemisphere? the throughout countries most in unpunished and will so, what if And change? policy drug support opinion public program be the will What regions? in different like look change combined with changing social trends and more inclusive societies, inclusive more and trends social changing with combined will significantly reduce problematic consumption and its harms in undetected largely remain laundering money Will countries? most public health infrastructure in some countries? Or will we be able be we will Or countries? some in infrastructure health public evidence- disseminate and sustain, implement, effectively more to that, programs treatment and reduction, harm prevention, based But there are many uncertainties as well. Will violence in most violence Will as well. many uncertainties are But there problem Will or decrease? increase hemisphere in the countries on strain a greater and place increase of drugs consumption atic and that there will be organized criminal groups operating through operating groups criminal be organized will there that and a range of these illegal activities. out the region, profiting from some will die, while others will develop serious medical conditions medical serious develop will others while die, will some illegal be will there that C; Hepatitis HIV and as such infections or activities; such from made be to money is there wherever activities be a substantial demand for psychoactive substances, including substances, psychoactive for demand be a substantial small a that drugs; produced illicitly and pharmaceuticals alcohol, and drug-dependent, become will users drug of those percentage In all scenarios, we begin with the understanding that while the while that understanding the with we begin In all scenarios, still will 2025, there in that sure be can we is uncertain, future the Americas, the Scenario Team has constructed three as most three has constructed Team Scenario the Americas, the cautionary a fourth, – and explore to useful for discussion. add to the platform the Scenarios in problem drug of the future the into paths possible many Of the Americas: Introduction to Introduction Americas: The Drug Problem in the in the Drug Problem The ------dis and to strengthen institutional ca institutional strengthen to ? Or, as a less likely possibility ? Or, as a less likely 1 ? As a third approach, will many will approach, third ? As a Together, Pathways, Resilience, together resilience – trying to balance the urgency of reducing of urgency the balance to – trying pathways challenge – explore these responses to the drug problem in the in problem drug the to responses these explore – Unless otherwise stated, all quotations in the following scenarios come in the hemisphere, in which those countries suffering high suffering countries those in which hemisphere, in the

levels of violence, related to efforts to repress illicit drug produc drug illicit to repress to efforts related of violence, levels tion, trafficking, and transit, decide to go their own way in meet drug the ing institutions own their of integrity the for risks the against violence cooperation? and for improved international – scenarios following The Disruption Americas as four possible futures. countries in the hemisphere draw on their improved social capital capital social improved on their draw hemisphere in the countries em underlying the in which approaches, community-based to build as primar violence use and related drug treating from shifts phasis by drug problem to the to responding matter security or ily a legal community strengthening be there could explore, and understand to important one but ruption 1 from the Scenario Team or from interviews with 75 leaders from across the on a Hemisphere, including current and former Heads of Government, conducted not-for-attribution basis. not mutually exclusive – future, will some countries conclude that conclude countries some will – future, exclusive mutually not experiment to begin and to be changed need policies current our illegal currently of regulation the permit that regimes different with programs prevention on strengthening focus others while drugs, different – exploring areas and attempt to work work to attempt and areas pri enforcement shift and effectively, more corruption fight pacity, – but possible another Or, in security? citizen to enhance orities Organization of American States of American Organization 20 2013 – 2025 COMPARISON OF THE SCENARIOS

2013 – 2025 23 organizations; conflicts over violations of international treaties production within and transit through their territories violence;Reduced increasing attention to domestic rather than international freeingpriorities; up of resources currently being spent on security and law enforcement Reduced enforcement, which allows the expansion of drug markets and profits; possible capture of states by criminal Disruption The problem is that countries where drugs (especially cocaine) produced andare through which they transit are suffering unbearable and unfair costs Abandoning the fight in some countries against (or reaching an accommodation with) drug problems; lag time before this response reduces drug-related crime through bottom- up programs by localcreated governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations More inclusive, less violent, and healthier communities, which take an active role in andfighting crime drugs Insufficient resources and capacities of many local governmental and non-governmental organizations to address these Resilience The drug problem is a manifestation and magnifier of underlying social and economic dysfunctions that lead to violence and addiction Strengthening communities and improving public safety, health, education, and employment Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios jurisdictions Managing the risks of experimentation, especially with transitioning from criminal to regulated (includingmarkets possible increases in problematic use); dealing with contraband and new inter- governmental tensions that result from differences in regimes between Development of better drug policies through experimentation; reallocation of resources from drugscontrolling and drug users to preventing and treating problematic use; shrinkage of some marketscriminal and profits through regulation harm Trying out and fromlearning alternative legal and regulatory regimes, starting with cannabis Pathways The problem is that the current regime for controlling drugs through sanctionscriminal (especially arrests and incarceration of users and low- level dealers) is causing too much Rebuilding stateRebuilding institutions in the face of opposition from entrenched interests; weak, patchy, and lagging international cooperation; balloon effect of activitiescriminal shifting to places with weaker institutions Better citizen security; increased ofcredibility state institutions supported by increased public confidence and taxation; renewed hemispheric partnership Strengthening the capacity of judicial and public safety institutions to ensure security through greater professionalization, better partnering with citizens, new success indicators, and improved international cooperation Together The drug problem is part of a larger problem,insecurity with weak state institutions unable to control organized crime and the violence itand corruption generates

response Challenges in implementting this response Opportunities presented by this is attempted The response that problem’ is understood How ‘the drug Comparison of the Scenarios of the Comparison

TOGETHER

2013 – 2025 27 - - “The solution to this “The solution to this cannot be problem unilateral and it cannot a single region come from alone. Cooperation is This is not the necessary. discussion of fifteen years ago.” - - - - - , the Together Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios and to deliver improved se improved deliver to and together , senior leaders in the Americas recognize recognize Americas in the leaders , senior Together

The State made a large investment in road and energy infrastructure that changed the changed that infrastructure energy and road in investment a large made State The inter now is production livestock and Agricultural region. the of dynamics economic and competitive more it making markets, international and national the with connected enjoys also population The development. agro-industrial additional for way the leading has improved. increased access to basic services, and the quality of these services authorities, establishing public administration based on the principle of service to citi of service principle on the based administration public establishing authorities, of resources, management better the for capacities technical local zens, strengthening as as well opinions, express and to organize ability population´s the promoting and propose, evaluate, and supervise public administration. Investment in Infrastructure main factors. Governance the between trust establish to need the seeing donors, international and State The reaching for and dialogue for capacity the improved authorities, and the population local and regional and population the among agendas common by creating agreements For two and a half decades (1970-1995), the San Martín Region of Peru was affected was Peru of Region Martín San the (1970-1995), decades half a and two For the of result a as Today, violence. associated and activities trafficking drug criminal by In experience. this overcome has it change, to willingness and work hard population´s of 75% of the a gross value with hectares, 28,600 occupied crops coca 1992, illicit regional agricultural economy. In 2011, that area has been reduced to 468 hectares economy. agricultural regional the of 1% than – less 0.71% only of value gross a with seven of interaction the required policies and institutions strengthening of model This Strengthening Institutions and Policies: Strengthening Institutions The San Martín Model lence, and corruption. citizens and government institutions, especially in the areas of law of areas the in especially institutions, government and citizens In security. citizen and justice, criminal enforcement, vio crime, preventing to drugs controlling from shifts emphasis fessionalizing and modernizing democratic institutions; prioritizing institutions; democratic modernizing and fessionalizing imple violence; discourage and deter that approaches enforcement between relationships new creating and practices; best menting responsibility they need to cooperate more effectively to face the face to effectively more to cooperate need they responsibility problems crime drug-related pro and law of rule the by strengthening citizens their to curity Using the presentation of the OAS drug study as a catalyst, lead as a catalyst, study drug OAS the of presentation Using the shared their to meet in order that recognize Americas in the ers and some of the Caribbean. There is too much violence and too violence is too much There the Caribbean. and some of simply we emerges: consensus A strong victims. many innocent with the situation as it is now. cannot continue In the world of In the world vulnerable most the on imposed has crime violent that toll high the America in Central those particularly in the hemisphere, countries Together Together ------governments respond effectively to the growing threat of transna of threat growing the to effectively respond governments tional criminal organizations. Governments commit to intensified Leaders recognize that closer cooperation – both internally among internally – both cooperation closer that recognize Leaders internation and institutions and agencies national country’s each trust only by building come – can hemisphere the ally throughout and confidence amongst them and their citizens. Only then can

the planet and has the highest level of carbon sequestration in the world. In order to In to world. order in the sequestration of carbon level highest and has the planet the so as adopted being are actions and policies damage, serious the repair and control crops permanent promote territory, the of use organized the for plans implement to: and by individuals owned to land titles the clarify agriculture, migratory to avoid degraded by recovering impact environmental the mitigate and communities, native areas and preserving biodiversity in natural areas and national parks. development. Law Enforcement sus a implements State Peruvian the trafficking, drug of resurgence the prevent To in Martín, San in crops coca illegal of eradication programmed the for project tained rehabilitation, their prevent to order in plantations, and seedbeds abandoned cluding processing the to dedicated laboratories rustic of destruction by the complemented of coca leaves. Environmental Sustainability As a result of migration and the expansion of coca crops and trafficking, the San Martín region had experienced deforestation of more than 33% of its forests. This of biodiversity and water of source primary the is which basin, Amazon the affected fair trade and the organic markets (certifications), and position themselves in the most demanding markets. International Cooperation learn cumulative on focused collaboration sustained with cooperation International In Martín. San in change of process the in role fundamental a play to continues ing ternational technical and financial input supports governance, road and basic social producer of strengthening and association production, agricultural infrastructure, organizations, community development, access to financial services, formalization of interna The support sustainability. environmental and ownership, land of rural out coming was Peru when times at important particularly was cooperation tional the and history, its in violence internal and crisis economic of period worst the of promote to or population the of needs the meet to resources have the did not State Agricultural Development Agricultural have to region the allowed has agriculture in growth extraordinary an years In recent exclu almost is based growth This in Peru. rates growth annual highest one of the harvesting for area The entrepreneurs. and farmers small of activities the on sively to 279,000 hectares in 2010. from 98,000 hectares in 1996 crops has increased Social Organization The transformation process of San Martín is small of closely organizations The development. its enhance to order in to organize ability related to the population´s to credit and assistance technical provide to: able been has example, for producers, and national to access have production, industrialize and diversify members, their recognition international obtain chain, marketing the shorten financing, bank foreign for qualify markets, foreign with directly negotiate products, their of quality the for Organization of American States of American Organization 28 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 29 - - “The key variable is the “The key variable is state of or weakness strength of institutions: the capacity the societies to implement rule of law.” ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios – a sustained cam – a sustained together , making the tough choices necessary to necessary choices tough the , making together agreements and drug control objectives set forth in US law. Such countries become countries Such in US law. forth set objectives control drug and agreements determines also President the unless assistance foreign US of types many for ineligible that providing aid is vital to US interests. their drug control policies and increasing multilateral cooperation in the hemisphere. their drug control policies and increasing multilateral cooperation in certification and review annual own its operates Department State US the addition, In process as mandated under US law. The US certification process has undergone revi determinations annual with in force, it remains in 1986, but creation its sions since drug or transit drug major be to considered countries whether as to by the President control drug to international to adhere demonstrably” “failed have countries producing OAS member countries are evaluated every two to three years by CICAD-OAS under by CICAD-OAS years to three every two evaluated are countries member OAS the “Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism” (MEM), focusing in 2013 on the de actions recommended of implementation the in progress making are they which extent to 1998 Summit a of product MEM, the The Strategy. Drug Hemispheric the from rived strengthening in states member all assist to programs region-wide promotes mandate, Drug Control Evaluation and Certification too weak, or who don’t have the trust crime, organized of threats potent the against effective be to other and confidence in each and financial crimes. violence, drug trafficking, extortion, primarily the current drug laws and policies that are to blame for blame to are that policies and laws drug current the primarily implementa incomplete or inadequate the is it – crisis current the or corrupt are that by institutions policies and laws those of tion internally and internally pro of years After institutions. security respective their strengthen not is it that believe they agreements, multinational many ducing institutions. both effectively more work must countries that recognize Leaders this issue are so great that they cannot effectively implement drug implement effectively cannot they that great so are issue this vio regional of causes root the to respond or objectives, policy sector security critical reforming first without insecurity, and lence and possession of drugs is not supported by most governments or governments by most supported is not of drugs possession and rec do leaders Hemispheric hemisphere. the across publics their of complexities and interdependencies the that however, ognize, Except for a few locally contained experiments with cannabis, with experiments contained locally a few for Except distribution, production, the controlling for regime the changing the fact that there is no consensus about changing or relaxing the relaxing or changing about consensus is no there that fact the regula alternative laws or creating drug of existing enforcement control drugs. tory regimes to countries are determined to launch – – to launch determined are countries vio their and organizations criminal transnational against paign lence, traffic in drugs, weapons, and corrupting influence, despite and judicial institutions work together within their own borders borders own their within together work institutions judicial and law sensitive of sharing greater to also and before ever than better Like-minded partners. international with information enforcement internal coordination so that domestic security, law enforcement, law security, domestic so that coordination internal ------nity and safety of citizens. Some of these programs are based on based are programs of these Some of citizens. safety nity and example, for in, forces police community of models successful the helps make police organizations more effective in combating vi combating in effective more organizations police make helps olence and breaking up drug trafficking organizations and street organized for support local countries, in some Gradually, gangs. not lessen, to begins forces armed irregular and groups criminal but countries, those in improvements economic of because only to human adherence presence, physical the growing also because insti state other and judicial, of security, transparency and rights, undercut areas, production and growing even in outlying tutions, their influence. to train launched are programs of 2015 to 2020, a number From dig the and rights human in protecting forces security and police is largely limited to bilateral sharing agreements between the US the between agreements sharing to bilateral limited is largely Mexico’s of result a as But region. the in key partners certain and and OAS the at commission crime an organized for 2012 proposal American, Central by 2017, Mexican, center, intelligence a regional exchang regularly are region in the countries other and Andean, case prosecutorial and information intelligence operational both ing inter and units vetted reliable more established having after data, without information of exchange the for allow that procedures nal trust increase help measures these Over time, compromise. of fear among the intelligence agencies of many countries. hemisphere the across intelligence criminal drug-related Sharing most important goal: to reduce the violence associated with illicit with associated violence the to reduce goal: important most drug trafficking by reducing the power criminal of in democratic of effectiveness and strength the increasing while organizations enforce law and judicial, security, of capabilities the and stitutions comes it when – especially done be best This can personnel. ment to the trafficking and transit of cocaine proved cooperation amongst countries. – in the context of im control drug of implementation improved of element important An informa security of sharing increased the is policies security and cooperation In 2013, intelligence boundaries. national across tion in a number of areas, learning from analysis and evaluation of best of evaluation and analysis from learning areas, of number a in practices across the hemisphere and benefitting from the growing improved and collection tax better developed have that economies effec more include reforms these of Key aspects spending. social in countries, within both sharing, information and cooperation tive commit inter-departmental effective of development of the terms intel hemispheric and regional through internationally, and tees, ligence centers. that markets be illegal always will there that recognize most While corrup institutional of degree a and organizations criminal enrich single the on focus new a be to needs there places, some in tion Rather than proposing new drug control regimes, which they con they which regimes, control drug new proposing than Rather determine leaders viable, socially nor politically neither be to sider effectively more cooperate to and institutions state their reform to

and, here it comes, the and, here success. When there was success. When there

you can have the greatest you can have the greatest political commitment, then well trained and equipped, there is enough confidence, there political commitment in my place, good legislation, law country, we saw the result.” we saw the result.” country, enforcement people who are people who are enforcement international mechanisms in “We managed to show that if “We Organization of American States of American Organization 30 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 31 ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios DMI has expanded to more than a dozen cities in the US. “DMI involves few arrests, US. “DMI few in the involves a dozen cities than to more DMI expanded has tar areas the of transformation a complete in results and practices, traditional few years. The neighborhoods for be sustained and can immediate are The results geted. themselves take responsibility for safety in their communities.” The High Point Drug Market Initiative (DMI) depends on building community resources community building on depends (DMI) Initiative Market Drug Point High The from to disassociate individuals in helping factor bonds as a key public and strong includes community the and families from offered assistance The misconduct. criminal housing, treatment, abuse substance care, day parenting, employment, training, job transportation, and family assistance. the local drug market responsible for most of the associated harms and nuisance, con nuisance, and harms associated of the most for responsible market drug local the the approached then and them, influence to likely people other and parents their tacted they that aware dealers the made police The had collected. they data the with dealers fewer in resulted initiative The activities. their continued they if imprisoned be would crime. arrests after two years, and a 25% decrease in violent and property by law enforcement interventions. Over time, violence in the areas where the gangs the where areas the in violence time, Over interventions. enforcement by law a 63% in 2001 found project of the An evaluation reduced. dramatically was operated among young people. decrease in the monthly rate of murders High Point, North Carolina Caro North in High Point of city the by is provided principle of the illustration Another in dealers young on information gathered police the time, of period long a Over lina. ticularly lethal incident in 1992, a coalition of faith groups started to organize forums forums organize to started groups of faith in 1992, a coalition incident lethal ticularly social and ministers, church officers, police gangs, in involved offenders gathered that education accepting either of choice the given were offenders Gang personnel. service ac was This activities. violent their for police by the targeted being or training, and leading groups, criminal violent most the of targeting by a well-publicized companied targeted being avoid to as so violence of levels high using stop to gangs Boston the most pernicious behavior of criminal groups (especially engaging law overwhelmed also enables an approach Such behaviors. less harmful tolerating in violence) while problems of under-resourcing. enforcement institutions to overcome Boston, Massachusetts Boston’s from derived mainly is approach deterrence community-based focused, The a par After Ceasefire’. ‘Operation as known 1990s, the in gangs violent against fight Organized crime generates multiple threats to states and society. Yet, it has proven dif proven has it Yet, society. and states to threats multiple generates crime Organized ficult for states to suppress these groups through zero-tolerance approaches to drugs corruption, violations, rights human to cases of a number in instead leading crime, and community-based focused, more to turned have authorities Some abuses. police and the seek to minimize which approaches, targeting and selective strategies deterrence Community-Based Deterrence Community-Based programs is made possible, in part, through increased funding for for funding increased through part, in possible, is made programs to offer and expenses operating their cover to both forces, police and conditions of service. adequate salaries gua. In some countries, more stringent programs against police police against programs stringent more countries, some In gua. stan hemispheric improved an with place into put are corruption anti-corruption these of some of success The oversight. for dard High Point in North Carolina, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and Nicara and Brazil, in Janeiro de Rio Carolina, North in Point High ------(London: International (London: IDPC Drug Policy Guide, 2nd Edition 2nd Guide, Policy IDPC Drug (Washington, D.C.: Washington Office on Latin America, June, 2011); Interna Tackling Urban Violence in Latin America: Reversing Exclusion through Smart Polic Smart through Exclusion Reversing America: Latin in Violence Urban Tackling tax evasion have been closed, or how many weapons are seized andtax evasion have been closed, or how many weapons are seized homicide rates are reduced. far or how traced to their source, To monitor, evaluate, and improve the effectiveness of these pro To monitor, evaluate, and improve the effectiveness of these but the de grams requires not only far better information gathering For example, instead ofvelopment of an improved set of metrics. eradicated, or how many of coca are measuring how many hectares how many people have been arrest or seized, tons of cocaine are toed, governments and international organizations begin to analyze orwhat extent the most violent criminal organizations are disrupted, how many corrupt officials are removed from office, or how many incitizen complaints about human rights violations have resulted military, or the number of murders or convictions of police criminal or whether loop and prosecuted, successfully investigated that are holes in the financial system that facilitated money laundering and service. In some public institutions, there is increased pressure is increased there institutions, public In some service. ac and transparent for – measures effective more – and more for by a accompanied are efforts These management. public countable public building and law of rule the upholding on emphasis renewed of professionalization The institutions. governmental in confidence for temptation the reduce to not only helps forces police salaried public the to commitment the to deepen helps also it corruption, sec affairs internal Empowered agencies. these of mission service cor that ensure institution, every in embedded increasingly tions, rupt officials are detected and removed before they can damage burgeoning institutional reform efforts. Some countries create versions of Mexico and Colombia’s success Colombia’s and Mexico of versions create countries Some example, for – recruitment police for profiles improve to efforts ful with deal to them training and graduates university more hiring crimes related to (accounting, money-laundering finance, and eco nomics), kidnapping (crisis management, tracing leads, and crisis management), and chemical precursors for cocaine and designer process). drugs (chemistry of the manufacturing these in emerge to begins institutions security for model new A professional more and standards shared higher on based countries violence that had become associated with drug markets, organized crime, and gang ac gang and crime, organized markets, drug with associated become had that violence development, social prioritized that plans long-term undertook municipality The tivities. and coordination capacity, community-building development, infrastructure education, on violence focused policing of community A model agencies. government local among actors national and state, local, of participation the with implemented, was prevention crimes. drug violent to response oriented socially a provide to citizens, local as well as results. positive achieved has and citizens among very popular been has approach The Since the initiation of the program, Santa Tecla has seen a significant reduction in its homicide rates. 2011), (June on: Based Investment Social and ing tional Drug Policy Consortium (March 2012); and http://www.highpointnc.gov/police/dmi_the_high_point_model.cfm. Drug Policy Consortium); Santa Tecla, El Salvador Santa Tecla, of levels high the reduce to approach similar a adopted Salvador, El in Tecla, Santa where to attack.” where

The ‘capos’ who are in who are The ‘capos’ of strategic information. of strategic information.

“The United States has a With that intelligence and that intelligence With prison have released a lot prison have released information, the US could great intelligence capacity. intelligence capacity. great help our countries to choose Organization of American States of American Organization 32 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 33

------6 The Observer The A case in point A case 3 – a much larger – a much 2 , June 30, 2012; http:// Rather than seeking a seeking than Rather 5 Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios The New York Times These loopholes in the financial system 1 4 “HSBC Mexican Branches Said to Be Traffickers’ Favorites,” Bloomberg, December 12, 2012. Gangs,” Drug Murderous Mexico’s from Billions Laundered US Bank “How a Big “How Delaware Thrives as a Corporate Tax Haven,” as a Corporate Thrives “How Delaware see: tax), company and income for rate (highest 30% and 17.5 between vary Mexico in rates Tax Tax Evasion Money Laundering, Money Flows: Unregulated and Illicit “Countering Blickman, Tom trol.info/images/stories/documents/crime3.pdf) 4 (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-12/hsbc-mexican-branches-said-to-be-traffickers-favorites. html) 5 http://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/hsbc/dpa-attachment-a.pdf 6 (April 3, 2011). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/03/us-bank-mexico-drug-gangs 1 www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/business/how-delaware-thrives-as-a-corporate-tax-haven.html 2 PKF Mexico Tax Guide 2012 at http://www.wipfli.com/Resources/Images/13754.pdf 3 (http://www.undrugcon 2010). (January Paper Debate Globalisation & Crime TNI Regulation,” Financial and but the case never came to court. The bank was sanctioned for failing to apply the apply to failing for sanctioned was bank The court. to came never case the but one-third to equivalent sum a – billion $378.4 of transfer the to oversight AML proper in Mexico. “Wachovia’s de cambio casas – from product national of Mexico’s gross carte a virtual cartels cocaine laws gave international banking our for disregard blatant blanche to finance their operations,” according to the federal prosecutor in the case. The total fine for Wachovia was even less than HSBC’s: 2% of the bank’s $12.3bn profit for 2009. worldwide profit before taxes for 2012. worldwide profit before taxes for authori federal paid Fargo) Wells giant financial the of (part Wachovia 2010, March In ties $110m in forfeiture for allowing transactions Crimi connected cocaine. to of tons drug 22 ship trafficking, to and used cash monitor to failing for fine $50m a incurred any individual, against not though Wachovia, against brought were proceedings nal and Mexican branches failed to effectively monitor the origin of more than $670 bil than more of origin the monitor effectively to failed branches Mexican and HSBC from dollars US of purchases in billion $9.4 than more and transfers wire in lion Mexico. Traf¬fickers would sometimes deposit hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in a single day into a single account using boxes designed to fit the precise di branches. Mexico HSBC’s in windows tellers’ the of mension payment a $1.92 billion secured US authorities bank, the against indictment criminal billion $20.6 HSBC’s of percent 10 than less is fine The charges. settle to HSBC from Most observers suspect that this is only the tip of the iceberg. In total, the bank’s US US bank’s the In total, iceberg. the of tip is only the this that suspect Most observers The Significance of Tax Evasion The Significance Much of the estimated US$ 42 billion that flows out of Mexico each year ends up in easier far accounts anonymous of establishment the make which of some banks, US than international off-shore financial centers. year per in tax revenue Mexico of some US$ 7-12 billion deprive Tax Evasion, Money Laundering, and Financial Regulation and Laundering, Evasion, Money Tax gime there is a growing awareness that it is not working as intended. working is not it that awareness is a growing there gime the and Mexico in cartel Sinaloa 2010, the 2006 to from scandal: HSBC recent is the through proceeds in $881 million than more moved Colombia in Cartel Valle del Norte HSBC’s US unit and Mexican branches. (the Merida Initiative). and Financial Regulation Money Laundering summit G7 Paris at the assembled powers economic the of leaders In July 1989, the decided to establish a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to implement an effective anti-money laundering (AML) strategy. However, since the inception of the AML re amount than the US$ 1.5 billion of US aid to fight the drug-related violence in Mexico in violence drug-related the fight to aid US of billion 1.5 US$ the than amount much more data can be collected and turned into useful information useful into turned and collected be can data more much An added advantage of building trust and working together is that together working and trust building of advantage added An ------7 , tax havens are havens , tax Together duction services. are US the into America Central through flows cocaine total While the through transit to shift small a to due part in slightly, declining more, declining are of violence rates the corresponding Caribbean, territories, own their over control better secure governments as in gangs competing between occurring violence the of much with pri enforcement their shifted have forces Security areas. urban the and disrupting on identifying attention special focusing orities, most violent crime and drug trafficking organizations —activities seizing and crops eradicating over priority take increasingly that drug shipments. money-laundering banks were merely fined, bank executives now the that understood commonly It is now liable. criminally held are global financial system, with its inadequate oversight and regula on controls basic the introduce to attempts the limited has tions, the global financial system that are necessary to effectively coun In evasion. tax and money-laundering ter computerized new and impunity, with operate to allowed longer no systems designed to analyze large amounts of anonymous finan flows. money suspected track governments help to begin data cial taxations stronger a have 2020 by hemisphere the in Countries criminal reform institutions, their strengthen to used is that basis re harm and treatment, prevention, improve and systems, justice to ensure that public services and policy makers are well informed. well are makers policy and services public that ensure to consistent, are there where quickly more spreads practice Best establishment the and works what about measurements objective improve incremental continuous for allows that loop a feedback of ment in performance. Another benefit is that the coordination in sharing knowledge increases acting and evaluating, measuring, organizational efficiency. across sectors and system-wide launder money against made has been progress By 2020, initial when earlier, a decade situation the Unlike tax evasion. and ing Report of the Commission of Experts of the President of the United Nations General Assembly on Assembly General Nations United the of President the of Experts of Commission the of Report

7 http://www.un.org/ga/econcrisissummit/docs/ System. Financial and Monetary International the of Reforms FinalReport_CoE.pdf regulatory arbitrage are located in developed countries’ on-shore banking systems, ac systems, banking on-shore countries’ developed in located are arbitrage regulatory Na United the in 2008 to advise formed Commission, Stiglitz so-called to the cording development. on impact its and meltdown financial the of consequences the on tions While particular attention has been focused on off-shore financial centers indevelop and laundering, money secrecy, tax evasion, tax of sources principal the countries, ing Organization of American States of American Organization 34 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 35 ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios within the same interna same the within together , in spite of progress toward institutional strengthening, strengthening, institutional toward progress of , in spite Together effective. gether to deal with specific issues, introducing region-specific solu region-specific introducing issues, specific with deal to gether plans. of larger administration the complicate sometimes that tions and more complex more both is becoming cooperation Hemispheric issues, not all countries can reach agreement, and so they must and agreement, can reach issues, not all countries dialogue. frank and open encouraging still while disagree’ to ‘agree to come problems similar with of countries groups Sub-regional tries than others, resulting in a movement of illicit activities from activities illicit of movement a in resulting others, than tries beginning are approaches implementation new the where countries some on And regions. or countries weaker into results show to fort and political determination, which are not equally distributed equally not are which determination, political and fort coun some in stronger are Institutions countries. within or among tional policy framework and under the same hemispheric umbrella hemispheric same the under and framework policy tional ele threatening to exposed more are some implementation, for a lot of ef takes institutions strong Building others. than ments As these new policies begin to take effect, it becomes clear that clear becomes it effect, take to begin policies new these As working are countries all while and incarcerated for their crimes much more frequently – thus the – thus frequently more much crimes their for incarcerated and break and the costs for weaker, are activity criminal for incentives ing the law are higher. ency, security, and justice, and they are starting to have those ex those have to starting are they and justice, and security, ency, successful, are initiatives these that extent To the met. pectations prosecuted, arrested, are criminals violent and leaders cartel major institutional presence in outlying territories; and selective improve and selective territories; in outlying presence institutional begun have citizens In short, system. justice criminal the in ments transpar with them provide to institutions their expect and trust to key traffickers; improved relationships between most police units and their citizenry, reflecting successful anti-corruption programs, and a greater in violence, reductions measurable training, better provements in the crackdown on organized crime: more and bet and more crime: organized on crackdown the in provements but themselves gangs criminal the about only not information, ter of arrest the for allow which laundering, money to relation in also ritorial control of regions formerly controlled by criminal actors. regions formerly controlled by ritorial control of im gradual to lead developments 2025, several to 2015 From problems gradually begin to lessen, in part because there is a grow there because in part lessen, to begin gradually problems through institutions state strong and transparent of presence ing ter stronger in results which areas, remote in even countries, out ernment ernment officials toget contracts for large infrastructure projects, to infiltrate people into the judiciary so that trials are delayed, and these But campaigns. electoral in participate directly and finance to large-scale large-scale hemispheric projects to fight organized crime produce local the at corruption out to root attempts than earlier results gov off buy to judges, harass or bribe to continue Criminals level. In ------

2 Dave Bewley-Taylor and Martin Jelsma, “The Limits of Latitude - The UN drug control conventions, conventions, - The UN control drug of Latitude “The Limits Jelsma, and Martin Dave Bewley-Taylor Differences regularly appear about the interpretation of the limit of latitude the regularly appear about the interpretation of Differences

1

2 Series on Legislative Reform of Drug Policies” Nr. 18, TNI/IDPC March 2012. http://undrugcontrol.info/images/stories/documents/dlr18.pdf members elected by ECOSOC, is mandated to monitor compliance to the 1961 and is mandated to monitor members elected by ECOSOC, system under the 1988 convention. The control 1971 conventions and to the precursor system to and requirements the estimates Board’s most important task is to administer of case In purposes. scientific and medical for drugs controlled of availability the ensure can open consulta perceived serious breaches of the 1961 and 1971 treaties, the INCB being seriously endan tions, and in the extreme case, if the aims of the Convention “are export of drugs for medical an embargo against the import and gered,” can recommend has never beenpurposes from and to the country concerned. This enforcement power used. practices, such as drug with regard to harm reduction treaty regime leaves to countries consumption rooms and various models of more lenient cannabis policies. 1 https://www.incb.org/incb/en/treaty-compliance/index.html the right to sign with a reservation that seeks to exclude or to modify the legal effect ofeffect legal the modify to or exclude to seeks that reservation a with sign to right the application to that State. certain provisions of the treaty in their traffick drug of facets many include to approach its broadened UN the 1980s, late the In Psychotro and Drugs Narcotic in Traffic Illicit against Convention Nations United The ing. against interventions reinforced and chemicals precursor regulated (1988) Substances pic related to drugs. The 1988 Convention reinforcedmoney laundering and other offenses (excluding consumption itself but including pos the obligation to criminalize drug offenses impose to offenses, trafficking of case the in Parties, on calls and use) personal for session such as imprison sanctions that “take into account the grave nature of these offences, release or parole.”ment or other forms of deprivation of liberty” and to discourage “early individual 13 of body quasi-judicial the (INCB), Board Control Narcotics International The Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP), precursor to the UN Office on Drugs on Office UN the to precursor (UNDCP), Program Control Drug International Nations and Crime (UNODC), recommended not to use the artificial distinction in national legisla tion, acknowledging that: “the international classification into narcotic drugs and psycho or by by the 1961 to whether the substance is governed substances according tropic the 1971 Convention has no conceptual basis. The legal definition of many psychotropic narcotic drugs, and in many cases, the reverse is true.” substances is entirely applicable to or stimulant, narcotic, (with and synthetic psychoactive drugs 235 plant-based Some hallucinogenic effects) are covered by these international treaties. A large majority of render drug control treaties, which to these international governments are signatories also but cannabis, and cocaine, heroin, like drugs of production and traffic, sale, use, the methadone, morphine, or diazepam, illegal for anything but medical and scientific pur retains or acceding to an agreement, a State poses. However, when signing, ratifying, The 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs merged all pre-war inter Drugs merged Convention on Narcotic Single United Nations The 1961 notablecontrolling the most with a focus on instrument, into one single national treaties tococaine, including the obligation such as opium, cannabis, and plant-based drugs, cul – the widespread and deeply embedded uses of the plants abolish all the traditional in developing countries. ‘quasi-medical’ practices tural, religious, and on the United Nations Convention substance use gave rise to Ten years later, increased Psychotropic Substances (1971), which expanded international policies to include psychedel and barbiturates, such as amphetamines, benzodiazepines, thetic substances syn as a way to exclude the wide ‘psychotropic’ substances was invented ics. The concept of 1971 Convention from the stricter pharmaceuticals included in the range of psychoactive the Unitedcommentary to its model drug laws, Convention. In the controls of the Single The International Drug Control Conventions Drug Control The International Organization of American States of American Organization 36 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 37 ------International Journal of Journal International (Oxford University Press, University (Oxford Countries can also change also can Countries 3 Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios 4 Vol. 14 (2003), pp. 171- 79. See R. Room, et al., “Rewriting the UN Drug Conventions,” and A thorough analysis of altering the international drug control conventions is done by D. Bewley- done is conventions control drug international the altering of analysis A thorough Report Drug World Programme, Control Drug International Nations United 3 Possibilities,” and Problems Conventions: UN the Drug Control “Challenging Taylor, Policy, Drug the Stalemate,” (Oxford University Press, 2010). Room, et al., “Cannabis Policy: Moving Beyond 4 1997), p. 199. The OAS-endorsed Hemispheric Drug Strategy of 2010 and its Plan of Action of 2011- of Action of Plan its and 2010 of Strategy Drug Hemispheric OAS-endorsed The rights, human respect that options policy programmatic of a set lay out 2015 also as a public dependency drug recognize and consumption, in drug reductions promote response. health problem that requires an integrated months after circulation, depending on the treaty subject to the proposed amendment, proposed the to subject treaty the on depending circulation, after months force. into enters and is accepted amendment the then with re-adhere and it by denouncing group-wise or individually obligations treaty their usually and easy not are procedures these All recently. did as Bolivia a reservation, contested, but as was said in the first UN World Drug Report: “Laws – and even the the when changed be they can in stone; written not – are Conventions international nations so wishes it.” democratic will of Changes Changes to the international conventions are possible by amendment. means Modification includes of re-scheduling substances modificationand could or take place by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in consultation with the World Health Or a involves Amendment INCB. the with in consultation precursors for and ganization, amend an forth put may Any party treaties. of the provisions of the alteration formal 24 or 18 within amendment the to objects party no If treaties. the of one any to ment expansion of the e-tracking software systems that allows security allows that systems software e-tracking of the expansion and a database into numbers serial a weapon’s enter to agencies spheric illegal firearms treaty (CIFTA) – and in 2015, the only two only the 2015, in and – (CIFTA) treaty firearms illegal spheric States, United the and Canada it, ratified yet not had that countries the enhances countries two these of addition The it. to accede formation, and disrupting all forms of organized crime, countries crime, organized of forms all disrupting and formation, clamping in effective more much become have hemisphere the in hemi the by aided is effort This trafficking. firearms illegal on down international broadening of policy from just focusing on drug tran on drug focusing just from of policy broadening international in sharing institutions, reforming on intensely focusing also to sit ing, extortion, and kidnapping. the following that is violence in decrease the for reason Another focus on the most violent actors, combined with the growing ef growing the with combined actors, violent most on the focus progress some in results forces security hemisphere of fectiveness against not just drug traffickers, but also against human traffick crime in the long term. As drug traffickers realize that eachtheir and them on attention enforcement law more brings act lent vio This new to be less violent. incentivized become they operatives, fight, but theyhave increased the emphasis on reducing violence cooperation, international on strengthening and corruption and organized against effective more be to expected are that moves es on strengthening their institutions, addressing corruption, and corruption, addressing institutions, their strengthening on es on focusing than rather targets crime organized high-level tackling the up given not have forces Security distributors. drug lower-level By 2025, drug-related violence in general has decreased – although has decreased in general violence By 2025, drug-related declined. dramatically has trade drug illicit the that clear is not it resourc focused have forces security is that changed has What ------, many countries have begun have countries , many Together of the hemispheric drug trade remains a work in progress. Even in progress. a work remains trade drug of the hemispheric internal institutions, stronger ahead, journey is a long there though of implementation effective and coordination, inter-departmental lead to beginning are agreements hemispheric and international the to a less corrupt and less violent era. in relation to the drug policy implementation, short-term solutions short-term implementation, policy drug the to relation in might have resulted in the sacrifice of long-term benefits. It is not cooperation that but ignored been have differences regional that has been developed on every level, as exemplified by the numer the throughout initiated been have that projects ous sub-regional hemisphere. of world the By 2025, in place into put to and territory their over sovereignty back win to pen to less vulnerable are that structures institutional stronger drug dangerous and violent The most crime. by organized etration disruption complete more a although dismantled, been have cartels cause all these reforms and initiatives require increased funding, increased require and initiatives reforms these all cause that recognize increasingly Leaders tight. are budgets and often legal new for laws the change or courses give to enough is not it in dedicated requires strengthening institutional All procedures. vestment and training over time. co regional grow, to continue America Latin of economies As the beneficial has implementation policy drug and security on operation institution democratic in especially too, areas, other in effects side training security on cooperation south-south Meanwhile, building. pathway own its followed had country If every improved. also has the fight against both must be pursued with equal intensity. must be pursued against both the fight a money-laun against a case built even if prosecutors past, In the case the to bring expertise had the judges few suspect, dering But in languished. often such cases so and trial, to a successful judges training for established courses are only not decade, this judicial in progress initial make countries many but attorneys, and reforms. Meanwhile, laws against the loopholes that benefit cor money- in used are that – and evasion tax facilitate and porations training, and As exchanges stricter. –become as well laundering institutions and judicial security expanded, are funding, as as well be part in uneven, and is slow progress But mature. and improve to identify where it came from and who transited it into the region. region. the into it transited who and from it came where to identify arms traf aware that are increasingly in the hemisphere Governments and trafficking, drug as important as is violence, of cause a as ficking, don’t get solved.” don’t

we would focus on the we would focus on the police go after the low- and higher level crimes

“In my positive scenario, “In my positive scenario, crimes that actually cause crimes that actually that get solved are the kids that get solved are with every day wouldn’t be with every day wouldn’t the police all the time. Our on the corner. The murders The murders on the corner. hassled and preyed upon by hassled and preyed hanging fruit. The problems hanging fruit. The problems problems. The people I work The people I work problems. Organization of American States of American Organization 38 2013 – 2025 PATHWAYS

2013 – 2025 41 rational legal and social in than we were approach 1914.”—The US National Commission on Marihuana Abuse, which and Drug marihuana recommended decriminalization in 1972 “The Commission believes “The Commission that the contemporary American drug problem in part from has emerged our institutional response to drug use. ... Unless policy is redirected, present we will perpetuate the tolerate same problems, the same social costs, and find ourselves as no further we do now, to a more along the road ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios in which some countries pursue a pursue countries some which in , a growing number of leaders throughout throughout leaders of number , a growing pathways Pathways

drug policies. A majority of public opinion in many developed, high- in many developed, opinion of public A majority policies. drug stances appearing on the market and the worrisome expansion of expansion worrisome the and market the on appearing stances impacts related the and drugs pharmaceutical of diversion illicit the current re-examine to pressure the increasing are health public on in their countries, but they also allow organized crime to earn huge to earn crime organized allow also they but countries, in their profits at a cost to the securitysub psychoactive of new rise rapid the In addition, democracies. of citizens and the integrity of forcing drug prohibition for their citizens produces more damage more produces citizens their for prohibition drug forcing only do not that believe leaders These themselves. drugs the than the current policies fail to sufficiently reduce supply and demand major changes in high-consuming countries. en that believe leaders political reforms, legal seeking In countries and focus their energies on demand reduction programs through programs reduction on demand energies their focus and for push others Still incarceration. to alternatives and prevention The result is different result The while and reform, experimentation evidence-based gradual, of path frameworks policy and regulatory, legal, current maintain others dictions, while increasing pressure on high-consuming countries todictions, while increasing pressure find better ways to manage. reduce demand for cocaine or to reasons, are opposed to pursuing any legal or regulatory reforms. regulatory opposed to pursuing any legal or reasons, are Where cocaine use or trafficking is the major problem, leaders are juris their for useful be could models alternative what in interested tives to address current drug policy challenges, beginning with can drug current address tives to less affected by problematic drugnabis, while others, who may be otherfor or enforcement, drug of consequences unintended use, or A growing number of international leaders call for an open and hon number of international leaders call for an open A growing perspec leaders speak about the need for fresh est debate. Some harm reduction, decriminalization, and more lenient cannabis poli lenient cannabis and more harm reduction, decriminalization, in Canada, New Zealand, Australia,cies that have been undertaken countries, and elsewhere. of European the US, a number only from within the hemisphere but also from civil society, govern only from within the hemisphere and other actors from around thements, political leaders, academia, look toward positively evaluatedglobe. Countries in the hemisphere current policies in order to gradually construct a new consensus. in order to gradually construct current policies comes from political pressures notPart of the impetus for change pathways. Rather than continuing to work through the same ap same the through to work continuing than Rather pathways. coun many used, always have they that control drug to proaches from to diverge them lead in effect, that, experiments begin tries for various reasons, are less inclined to pursue legal and regulatory and legal pursue to inclined less are reasons, various for reforms. As a result, it is extremely difficult to reach a consen regulatory new for looking when pursue to direction which sus on In the world of of world In the ap control drug current countries their in that think hemisphere the countries, Other results. intended the producing not are proaches Pathways ------would be less harmful. Others continue to believe that the current that to believe continue Others be less harmful. would suf provide or results, satisfactory producing are regimes control burden on all sectors of the criminal justice and health systems, health and justice criminal the of sectors all on burden in to risks increased spending, enforcement of costs opportunity use, the and trade drug with associated communities and dividuals mon to leading crime organized for opportunities profit of creation institu of democratic and undermining corruption, ey laundering, enforcement rigorous the see Others costs. many other and tions, security state of expansion the control, drug of militarization and “war the called be to used what of aspects other and apparatuses, on drugs” as not being in the best interests of the hemisphere. perfectly or perfect no are there that conclude leaders of number A that approaches current to alternatives – only solutions consistent els of organized crime leads to a new openness for dialogue on dialogue for openness new a to leads crime organized of els regulation cannabis toward movement The alternatives. possible debate policy a vigorous Uruguay creates and in North America of organized levels in lower result could such policies over whether drugs if other countries and transit source in and violence crime considered as well. such as cocaine and opium were a simply is not issue main the regime, current of the For analysts policies and laws the but implementation policy better of matter producing be to balance on seen are which of some themselves, more costs than benefits. These analysts claim that the unintend increased an include policies such of costs and consequences ed to drug legalization of any kind. In some countries, the concept the countries, In some kind. any of legalization drug to at the unaccepted generally remains use of drugs of recreational drugs/crime of a perceptions public due to persistent level, social sus and of heavy consequences over the concern the nexus and however, countries, of number In a use. cannabis regular tained as a spe seen to be is beginning use of cannabis non-problematic qual the recognize that responses policy tailored meriting case cial drugs, dangerous more to related problems from difference itative or heroin. such as smokeable cocaine, methamphetamine, lev reduce might that in solutions interest increased In any case, This point of view gradually becomes the norm even as patterns patterns as even norm the becomes gradually view of point This number the in increase an and countries, among use diverge of is use of cannabis problematic for treatment entering of people to be not appear does this – although jurisdictions some in seen in but an increase users in problematic an increase of result the the in help seek to free feel who users problematic of number the an and criminalization and stigmatization reduced of context new availability of treatment options. increase in the gradu shifts hemisphere the throughout opinion public Meanwhile, opposition strong previous the from away unevenly, if even ally, consuming countries shifts to viewing occasional cannabis use as use cannabis occasional viewing to shifts countries consuming of use occasional the – than less maybe – and harmful no more or tobacco. alcohol

be an acceptance that be an acceptance that “A good outlook would good outlook would “A

reduction, investing more investing more reduction, in treatment regimes. The regimes. in treatment experimentation with new experimentation with policy frameworks should policy frameworks should involve legalization, harm involve legalization, be encouraged. This could be encouraged. This prohibition has failed, that has failed, that prohibition decisions of each country.” decisions of each country.” precise formula should vary formula should vary precise according to the democratic to the democratic according Organization of American States of American Organization 42 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 43

- - - - 6 The concept of concept The 1 - - - - the Global Fund Global the 5 by the International by the - 3 by PEPFAR, 4 Civil society groups have argued have groups Civil society Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios 9 8 , 23(4) (2012), pp. 279-85. and other UN human rights and health fora, health and rights UN human other and 2 Nonetheless, the term ‘harm reduction’ remains controversial for the for controversial remains reduction’ ‘harm term the Nonetheless, Int J Drug Policy 7 http://www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/96733/Red_Cross_spreading_the_light_of_science.pdf http://www.pepfar.gov/documents/organization/144970.pdf Reduction J.Bridge, B.M. Hunter, R. Atun, and J.V. Lazarus, “Global Fund Investments in Harm http://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/idu_target_setting_guide.pdf http://www.ihra.net/files/2010/06/01/BuildingConsensus.pdf In the 1980s, ‘harm reduction’ emerged as an approach to drug policy distinct from distinct policy drug to approach an as emerged reduction’ 1980s, ‘harm In the has reduction Harm drugs. of, supply or for, demand the reduce to sought that those reduce to primarily aim that practices and programmes “policies, as defined been since and illegal use of legal of the consequences and economic social health, adverse the consumption.” drug reducing necessarily without drugs psychoactive Harm Reduction 4 5 6 from 2002 to 2009,” 7 http://www.ihra.net/global-state-of-harm-reduction-2012 8 http://new.paho.org/hq/dmdocuments/2010/CD50.R2-e.pdf 9 dence-based interventions for injecting drug users. drug injecting for interventions dence-based inter include, to services reduction harm essential of list this of extension the for 1 http://www.ihra.net/what-is-harm-reduction 2 http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/docu ment/2011/06/20110610_un_a-res-65-277_en.pdf 3 European Union. European resistance draws still its use in resolutions where Drugs, on Narcotic UN Commission also but concept the embraces Strategy Regional PAHO’s States. Member certain from adverse the reduce to services “support about instead speaking itself, term the avoids consequences of substance use.” WHO, UNODC, and UNAIDS have identified a basic ‘comprehensive package’ of evi individual harms attributed to international drug control efforts (such as mass incar mass as (such efforts control drug international to attributed harms individual ceration and human rights violations). Harm reduction has been embraced by the UN Assembly General Societies, Crescent Red and Cross Red of Federation coun hundred a by almost another- or way some –in and donors, leading other and entire the and States Member OAS a dozen about including world, the around tries harm reduction is not limited to drug policy – it has been successfully applied across a across applied successfully been has – it policy drug to limited not is reduction harm alcohol, tobacco, and sexual health. wide range of fields, not least for ini health public with synonymous was at one point reduction drugs, harm to In relation through – primarily drugs use who people among efforts HIV prevention such tiatives, therapy. substitution opioid and programs syringe and as needle such interventions and societal include to widened reduction’ ‘harm of concept the however, time, Over damaging healthy tissue in the process. damaging healthy the world has to learn to manage more effectively, while the cur the while effectively, more manage to to learn has world the it like treats many countries, in too as managed regime, policy rent means that if even – removed surgically be to needs that cancer a ing, and using drugs, but also the damage that comes from trying from comes that damage the also but drugs, using and ing, Problematic use? and transportation, production, drug prohibit to which diabetes, like condition, chronic a to analogous is use drug Some government leaders resolve to take a pragmatic approach pragmatic a take to resolve leaders government Some can how question: important most the answer to on trying based transport producing, from just not caused damage the mitigate we tial departure from the existing control model may also have unin have may also model control existing the from departure tial experiment. to inclined not are and consequences negative tended ficient opportunities for progress; or they claimthat any substan ------By The 11 10 that can mandate treatment instead of incarceration. that can mandate treatment instead However, the creation of new drug policies is a complex undertak is a complex policies of new drug creation the However, the in not – but problem drug the experiences country Every ing. is a there places – in some widely varies opinion way. Public same intensifi for preference a others, in and reform legal for movement and treatment interventions health public of evidence-based cation support countries Some incarceration. to alternatives as programs oth while sentences, prison longer with approaches, stricter even propos for yet ripe is not time the feel leaders political ers, where models court drug up setting way, middle a try changes, bold ing http://www.aidsalliance.org/includes/Publication/GPG_drug%20use_07.06.12.pdf

http://www.ihra.net/what-is-harm-reduction in recent decades. A study of seven Latin American countries found that in 1950, thein recent decades. A study of seven Latin American countries found aggregate of the penalties in the seven countries together was 34 years for the maxi penalties for drug offenses skyrocket. In the context of an escalating drug war and rein drug war penalties for drug offenses skyrocket. In the context of an escalating forced by the requirement to implement provisions of the 1988 Trafficking Convention, all countries in the region strengthened their drug control legislation. of drug- number Two indicators clearly demonstrate this trend: the expansion of the increase of lengthrelated acts criminalized in articles in domestic penal codes, and the conducts. those for sentences maximum and minimum as established terms prisons of The first one increased tenfold, making it easier for governments to incarcerate a wider traders, often withrange of actors on the drugs markets, mostly users and small-scale penalties that far outweigh the severity of the crime. two to up of sentences minor included laws control drug first the penalties, of area the In has multipliedyears in prison, or even no prison term at all, but the severity of sanctions Proportionality of Sentences to response of proportionality requires a State’s The internationally recognized principle good governance to be proportionate. In a crimi or anything that may harm peace, order, to crime, punishment as an acceptable response nal justice sense, the principle permits provided that it is not disproportionate to the seriousness of the crime. the use of penal law to con growth of The past few decades show an unprecedented has seenfront the expanding illicit drugs markets, and the whole American hemisphere implementation of effective harm reduction measures for smokeable cocaine (crack, cocaine smokeable for measures reduction harm effective of implementation projects pioneering several with stage, early an in still is Americas the in paco) basuco, Colombia. Argentina, and Brazil, Uruguay, in Canada, the US, ongoing drug balanced a of pillar complementary as a implemented best is reduction Harm argue Advocates reduction. supply and reduction demand alongside response, policy approach. effective cost and evidence-based, incremental, is a targeted, it that 10 11 acknowledging that many people throughout the world are unable or unwilling to stop to unwilling or unable are world the throughout people many that acknowledging human health, their to protect seeks reduction harm markets, in drug engagement their wellbeing as far as possible. rights, dignity, and alia, overdose interventions, advocacy for policy reform, stigma reduction, violence reduction, stigma reform, policy for advocacy interventions, overdose alia, development. alternative and rooms, consumption drug services, legal reduction, Organization of American States of American Organization 44 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 45 - “The problem is not the “The problem is drugs, the problem the laws that prohibit substances and prevent dealing with people from their issues. Criminalization than problems causes more the substances themselves.”

------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios 1 “Addicted to Punishment: The Disproportionality of Drug Laws in Latin America,” Executive America,” Latin in Laws Drug of Disproportionality The Punishment: to “Addicted 1 http://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/ 2013. (CEDD), Derecho y Drogas Estudios de Colectivo Summary, Addicted%20to%20Punishment_Exec%20Summ.pdf Full edition (in Spanish) available at http://www.de justicia.org/index.php?modo=interna&tema=estado_de_derecho&publicacion=1391 mum and 4.5 years for the minimum, with an average penalty of 19.25 years. Those figures are now 141 years for the maximum and 59.7 years for the minimum, with an aggregate the years, 60 in that means That years. 100.4 of penalty aggregated average maximum penalty increased by 415 percent, the minimum by 1,327 percent and 521 percent. average by the rapidly become drug tourist destinations or that problematic drug problematic that or destinations tourist drug become rapidly the difficulty of preventing contraband and spillover across their and In Denver nearby. available is legally cannabis when borders may cities their that worry citizens and politicians some Seattle, But there is a mixed response from other US states, with some with US states, other from is a mixed response But there of and by youth use drug increased of risk the about complaining significantly lessen the cannabis earnings of the Mexican drug car drug Mexican the of earnings cannabis the lessen significantly feeds states these from production assuming years, in a few tels demand from neighboring US states. nabis for non-medical purposes, including cultivation, licensing of licensing cultivation, including purposes, non-medical for nabis that estimate Experts taxation. and controls, quality outlets, retail could two states in these markets regulated of legal, development given to the OAS. Soon after, public awareness of the issue is issue the of awareness public after, Soon OAS. the to given as steps US take in the and Washington Colorado when heightened can of use adult for market regulated legal a implement to states The turning point for a new debate had already begun in 2012, in begun already had debate new a for point turning The mandate the and in Cartagena Americas the of Summit the with cerns over drug consumption dominate, and a demand-reduction demand-reduction a and dominate, consumption drug over cerns preven balance to attempting cases some in preferred, is approach with law enforcement. tion, treatment, and harm reduction the drug trade. The issue of the negative impact of the global treaty global the of impact negative of the issue The trade. drug the discussions. policy in national frequently more is raised obligations con Cone, Southern and the America in North countries In other National and regional security continues to be undermined by the to be undermined continues security regional and National power of transnational organized criminal groups that profit from human rights violations are made worse or are even largely caused largely even are or worse made are violations rights human production and trafficking of drugs. by efforts to prevent the illicit leaders in some Central and South American countries where there where countries American South and Central some in leaders vio drug-related of problems that believe cultivation crop drug is and prisons, overcrowded insecurity, rates, homicide high lence, ment costs, stress on families) and those related to drug control en control drug to related those and families) on stress costs, ment country every affect not do and distributed unevenly are forcement Political extent. same the to or way same the in hemisphere the in erate well enough for some countries but generates serious prob serious generates but countries some for enough well erate drug to related costs and harms example, For others. for lems treat dependency, (loss of productivity, region in the consumption Most agree that the international drug control framework may op framework control drug international the that Most agree ------to create a legal regulated market for the production, distribution, production, the for market regulated legal a create to opinion Public purposes. non-medical for cannabis of use adult and cannabis – in addition to running counter to the international drug international the to counter running to addition in – cannabis limited given to execute a challenge be quite – would conventions In hemisphere. in the governments most to available tools policy to es emerges proposals of legislative a variety countries, several cautiously, unfolds debate the but markets, regulated legal, tablish becomes information more until to wait prefer leaders as many and in Uru States United in the experiences the about available and practices on-the-ground between tensions guay. Meanwhile, increase. to continue requirements treaty global the of strictures the narrowly country American Latin a period, time same this During passes new legislation – becoming the first country in the world In most of the hemisphere, cannabis is considered to be a relatively a to be is considered cannabis hemisphere, the of In most se the with concerned more much authorities with issue, marginal as crack use as well alcohol to problematic related problems rious coun many Informally, drugs. pharmaceutical and heroin, cocaine, place in practices enforcement pragmatic more have already tries for cannabis offences. By 2014, many more countries have moved toward decriminaliza than rather drugs additional of possession and use personal of tion a specific regime forthe regulation of cannabis. This reflects the into putting that authorities of drug control majority view of the of regulation and production legalized of system a complex place sured response of the US federal government in response to these in response government US federal of the response sured pro perception public in shifts continuing the and initiatives state at legalization cannabis of expansion further for incentives vide sup towards opinion public US in trend gradual A level. state the making continues, market cannabis of the regulation legal for port interventions federal or level state at policies those of reversal a platform for politicians. against them less likely as an electoral Caribbean the and America in Latin countries in some opinion Public posses of personal of decriminalization in favor to shift continues cannabis. of availability legal limited with experimenting and sion the federal ban is a losing game. ban is a losing the federal these confront to slow is government federal US the Meanwhile, how of nature complex the given level state the at changes legal divi Constitutional the over concerns crafted, were statutes the of sensitivities political the and powers, state and Federal of sion states. electorates in both experi Washington and Colorado the least, at term, short In the en consequences, negative few produced have to appear ments in level provincial and state the at initiatives additional couraging mea The cannabis. or decriminalize to legalize Canada US and the use will increase substantially. In a number of states, however, states, of number In a substantially. increase will use ini and ballot legislation similar introduce to grows support public upholding whether question to begin politicians some and tiatives, “Experimental and to do experiments.”

overwhelming scale of overwhelming scale innovation, and then to innovation, and then pilot projects have been pilot projects

essential. We need a non- essential. We even to fail, but in Canada there were 101 reasons not 101 reasons were there scale things up. In Europe it scale things up. In Europe was okay to try stuff out and was okay to try stuff Organization of American States of American Organization 46 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 47 ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios a community, they are not a collectivity, so when they die, they leave a lot of files, theories, or concepts that are there but are not reproduced in society. re children that is necessary it in society, be reproduced and to work For something by and children by their is reproduced culture parents’ that conduct, parents’ their play the explore to way only The a culture. really aren’t experts The generations. next the The spiritual leaders are pleased that society at large is beginning to recognize that that to recognize is beginning at large society that pleased are leaders The spiritual society the What order. that with responsible on interrelatedness depends wellness accept to refuse Why do people identity. of It is a lack problem. is a cultural has had Every want? they really what them has asked no one it be that norms? Could social not are experts but arise, experts issues many On experts. of hands the in is left thing part of a common cultural core, the Tayrona. There we have been able to live with our to live with able have been we There Tayrona. the core, cultural of a common part traditions in spite of many difficulties. How do we understand life? What is our role has to be coher Our way of thinking of nature. the rules We understand on earth? are of happiness codes on us. Our depends The world of nature. rules those with ent a is a way to maintain leaves use of coca The responsibility. to our related to be going higher level of consciousness and connection with the natural order. Coca and Indigenous Culture 603,000 hectares of an area have We Marta. of Santa Nevada Sierra in the live We all Kankuamo, the and Wiwas, the Arawak, the Kogi, the are reservations in three and human rights instruments about the right to health, development, development, health, to right the about instruments rights human indigenous rights. and the protection of cultural and condemned argue that they are not ignoring their obligations but obligations their ignoring not are they that argue condemned instead are trying to reconcile the sometimes conflictive legal re from stemming those with treaties control drug the of quirements of the whole drug control system and undercuts the legitimacy the undercuts and system control drug whole the of increas an in important are which treaties, international other of being are that countries the However, world. interconnected ingly steps countries are taking towards legal regulation of the cannabis the of regulation legal towards taking are countries steps ignor and – violations treaty as condemned strongly are market integrity the undermines is argued, it obligations, treaty these ing bis use. Others emphasize that all OAS members have signed the signed have members OAS all that emphasize use. Others bis and use of many psy trade, production, the limit that UN treaties the Indeed, purposes. research and medicinal to drugs choactive Some countries are wary of adopting legalization out of concern of out legalization adopting of wary are countries Some canna about message positive a youth to convey could it that more support. Some presidents publically express support for can presidents publically more support. Some opium and regulation of cocaine for call others while nabis regulation, intensifies. debate public the and region, the in illegally grown poppies the use and possession of this drug and to discuss how best to regu of this drug and to discuss the use and possession pro parliamentary distribution. In the same year, late production and American countries gainseveral Latin the table in posals already on In 2015, several Caribbean countries with a long tradition of social ac with a long tradition countries several Caribbean In 2015, laws, seizing the use begin to amend their drug ceptance of cannabis to decriminalize to carry through legislative reforms political moment some presidential candidates for the presidential race oppose the the oppose race presidential the for candidates presidential some this direction. move in in that country remains skeptical of this new policy, however, and and however, policy, new this of skeptical remains country that in ------inclusion of cannabis and coca leaf in the classificationthe and amend to revise of a procedure the initiation They request system. be unintended consequences of a regulated market? Would the Would market? a regulated of consequences unintended be cure be worse than the disease? and cannabis of review a critical WHO undertakes In 2016 the IV schedules from cannabis removing recommends and leaf coca How Convention. Single the I of schedule from leaf coca I and and and controversy, political an intense triggers WHO advice the ever, Narcotic on Commission the at represented countries of majority a Drugs (CND) votes to reject these recommendations, maintaining UN the year, same In the substances. of both status current the General Assembly devotes a special session (UNGASS) to global to the opposition express of countries a number where policy drug about embracing an approach that they see as untested and con and as untested see they that an approach embracing about regula legal would example, For countries. own their in troversial on easy availability the to in comparison availability increase tion And if it use? it increase now, and if so, would market illicit the in increase this from result problems more would use, increased commercialized, supply become drug or not? Would availability, and aggressive accompanying with tobacco, and alcohol like much the be would What campaigns? marketing corporate successful stay to likely is crime organized though Even impacts? health public extent what to degree, some to least at drugs, of business the in busi illegal other by increasing revenues drug lost it replace could there it lose? Would would power and income much – how nesses Tensions increase as these political conflictsthe as some within as well and Africa Asia in solved. Countries are not easily re for markets regulated but legal to switching that argue hemisphere Pandora’s a opens substances illegal currently other or cannabis and cocaine for regime control the undermine may also box that dra potentially and unforeseen triggering risky drugs, more other, matic consequences. under are regimes regulated legal, with experiments Even though cautious remain leaders many jurisdictions, of variety a in way on penal law.” on penal law.” media, but sometimes that doesn’t carry the cultural load, and they are the ones that ones the are they and load, cultural the carry doesn’t that sometimes but media, the decisions. are guiding com indigenous the from someone invited to have workshop this for It’s a good thing commu small a we’re though us, even from ideas of source a there’s I think munity. brothers older the are We say we discussion? to this we contribute nity. So how could We world. confused a in message important an of carriers are we believe we because with dialogue to have We act. we how on depends world the that conscience a have logic renewed a change, of kind a be to has there point some At serenity. and maturity a be will this Hopefully, Earth. towards responsibility of sense new a and life, about reorient our thinking. to see clearly the things that can moment of change, 2013 Panama, Workshop, Scenario the at – spoken leader Arhuaco Villafañe, – Danilo truth is to have a collective practice. The lack of a collective practice leads to a lack a to leads practice collective a of lack The practice. collective a have to is truth the by affected is world your that is problem other The agreements. and ideas of good

Today the international Today need a broader menu of need a broader community controls how community controls

should allow for countries to protect their people. We their people. We to protect create their own solutions, create “It’s crucial to create more more crucial to create “It’s options that doesn’t depend options that doesn’t based on their local context. to develop diverse strategies drugs are criminalized. They drugs are flexibility for the countries to countries the for flexibility Organization of American States of American Organization 48 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 49 ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios coca products. rope, but also because it contains a carefully thought out plan for plan out thought a carefully contains it because also but rope, experiences and models regulation different of effects monitoring natural and sale, and use of cannabis production, the for in practice This “Modernizing Drug Control” proposal carries weight, not only weight, carries proposal Drug Control” This “Modernizing Eu and America Latin of most from support with comes it because they invite other countries to join with them in calling on the UN to the on calling in them with join to countries other invite they interna current the up make that UN conventions three the revisit tional drug control framework. outlines of a potential new treaty structure, launches a proposal a launches structure, treaty new potential a of outlines In 2017, there. how to get for and a roadmap revision treaty for cies, showing more and more deviation from the old treaty para treaty old the from deviation more and more showing cies, started had already that countries of like-minded A group digm. back in 2014 to informally brainstorm and strategize about the In 2017, recognizing that formal amendments to the treaties are treaties to the amendments formal that In 2017, recognizing Amer the in countries several term, short the in achieve to difficult poli cannabis regional facto de develop to begin Europe and icas of sharp divisions and the absence of consensus makes the 2016 the makes consensus of absence the and divisions sharp of control history. UNGASS a turning point in drug are required to avoid an explicit demonstration of disagreement, so disagreement, of demonstration explicit an to avoid required are mask to declaration bland a of adoption the with ends session the visibility The consensus. control drug global the of breakdown the In 2016, the UNGASS discusses all these issues, but ends in dis in ends but issues, these all discusses UNGASS In 2016, the can the way forward about of opinion The differences agreement. efforts Diplomatic consensus. a new to down negotiated be not using it as a substitute treatment for problematic smokable cocaine smokable problematic for treatment substitute a as it using – intensifies. heroin, are also influencing the debate. There is, however, a grow a however, is, There debate. the influencing also are heroin, differently cannabis treat to Brazil, in notably most movement, ing – such as cannabis with in experiments and interest cocaine from In response to these de facto deviations from policy, public opinion public policy, from deviations facto de to these In response use drug in problematic patterns Changing to be mixed. continues and cocaine crack of challenge growing the including region, the in an open debate about the merits of applying the legal regulation legal the of applying merits the about debate an open substances beyond cannabis. model to other continued public skepticism. And there is a growing movement to movement is a growing And there skepticism. public continued and to grow people native and indigenous of rights the recognize for call hemisphere the in presidents two least At leaf. coca chew federal prohibition remains intact. Elsewhere in the hemisphere the hemisphere in the Elsewhere intact. remains prohibition federal follow to seek countries American Latin several of governments encounter but of cannabis, legalization of elsewhere examples the be renegotiated before experimenting with alternatives to the ac alternatives with experimenting before be renegotiated 2016, of elections general US the After frameworks. legal cepted the though cannabis, and regulate legalize US states more several mentation with regulatory models of control. with regulatory mentation to UN conventions the for wait do not hemisphere in the Countries treaty system in order to allow more flexibility fornational experi ------Transac 4 3 it has thus far eluded law enforcement law eluded far thus has it 1 and the site has since grown further in scale. The in scale. further grown has since site the and 2 three treaties currently in place. Several Asian, African, and Middle and African, Asian, Several place. in currently treaties three of a de as evidence move this oppose strongly countries Eastern Further informal consultations and dialogues result in the decision the in result dialogues and consultations informal Further confer a plenipotentiary convene to General UN Secretary by the in conventions control UN drug three the of parties of the ence 2021, five years after the watershed 2016 UNGASS, to negoti the replace will that Convention Single of a new contours the ate to regulation indicate that some of these ‘experiments’ are having are ‘experiments’ some of these indicate that to regulation of measures a number impact across or negligible either positive for example. Other‘drug tourism’, and rates of use, such as health, and are the focus to be somewhat problematic models are seen adjustments to address to identify appropriate of review processes regimes are poorly of the new regulatory Some emerging issues. increased problem and are blamed for conceived or implemented, institutions,health or regulatory on burdens increased or use atic or for conflictswith neighboring jurisdictions that have different re are acknowledged ‘experiments’, however, gimes. Most regulatory sellers, and commu the harm to users, producers, to have lessened status of cannabis.to be a direct result of the illegal nities that used Emerging research from the early adopters of regulation regimes adopters of regulation from the early research Emerging after results Initial research this process. has informed for cannabis approaches of different with a number years of experience several https://www.torproject.org/about/overview.html.en

such as China, Iran, and Syria, while Bitcoin is the world’s fastest growing currency and currency growing fastest world’s the is Bitcoin while Syria, and Iran, as China, such is worth an estimated USD 800 million. 1 http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/123187958.html 2 http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/nicolasc/publications/TR-CMU-CyLab-12-018.pdf 3 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/22/silk-road-online-drug-marketplace 4 Independent research from 2011-2012 has shown that approximately USD 1.2 million USD approximately that shown has 2011-2012 from research Independent month, each Road on Silk was spent eBay: as such forums sales community-based well-known other to similarly operates site pay and feedback, transaction through verified are buyers and sellers of reputations the has Road Silk is completed. transaction the until escrow an in held typically are ments – quality better down an easy way to track connoisseurs: for as “a site described been consumers to “bypass gangs.” not cheap – drugs” and a way for software Tor with operates as it interventions enforcement law evaded has Road Silk users. Internet of anonymity the ensures that tunnels” virtual of – “a network online legitimate are Both currency. “Bitcoin” online the using conducted also are tions places in censure government against tool activism crucial a been has Tor mechanisms: Silk Road: Drugs and the Internet Silk Road: Drugs and the the around people for was launched Road’ ‘Silk called 2011, a website In February for only site the It is not anonymously. drugs controlled various sell to buy and world as Schumer Chuck by US Senator Described infamous. most is the but purpose, this to attempt brazen most the represents that drugs illegal for shop one-stop certifiable “a seen,” ever have we that online drugs peddle pose that developments technological the of one is it such, As down. it shut to attempts drug to curb efforts enforcement law of traditional effectiveness to the challenges major supply. Organization of American States of American Organization 50 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 51 - - - - 1 - Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios 3 The new Psychoactive Substances Bill provides a regulatory framework for the framework Bill provides a regulatory The new Psychoactive Substances Full text of the draft bill is available at: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2013/0100/ at: available is bill draft the of text Full http://www.unodc.org/documents/ UNODC, 2013, “The Challenge of New Psychoactive Substances” 2 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1210/S00181/dunne-legal-highs-regime-costs-and-penalties-an 1 latest/whole.html 2 scientific/NPS_2013_SMART.pdf 3 nounced.htm can sell products; and labelling and packaging requirements. untenable” and thatThe New Zealand government has said that “the current situation is substances. At the mo controls over psychoactive this new “regime will provide stronger orsale, of place ingredients, over control no with unregulated, are products these ment, who they can be sold to.” market. and establishing product risksproduction and sale of NPS, but puts the onus for reviewing a licencefor apply companies must pharmaceutical way same the producers, in the onto include upPenalties under the new regime extensive testing. a drug only after to market with intent to sup to two years in prison for import, manufacture, supply, or possession include a minimumply unapproved substances. Elements of the regulatory sales model on which outletspurchase age of 18; no advertising except at point of sale; restrictions model for BZP through an amendment to the NZ Misuse of Drugs Act floundered (although floundered Act Drugs of Misuse NZ the to amendment an through BZP for model they did represent the first attempt toregulate a synthetic stimulant for non-medical use in 2008. and BZP was prohibited anywhere in the world), mar have established countries where NPS in other As has been the common experience substances onto thekets, bans have tended only to lead to the emergence of still newer New Zealand’s proposed legislation for the regulation of new psychoactive substances the regulation for New Zealand’s proposed legislation drug UN the under scheduled not (currently NPS certain of licensing the for provides (NPS) and sold within a strict regulation framework. conventions) to be legally produced attempts to address the emerging challenge of NPSThis new legislation follows previous popularity of so-called ‘party pills’ containing thein New Zealand, especially the rising ‘BZP’. Initial attempts to introduce a regulated marketstimulant drug Benzylpiperazine or Regulatory Innovation: New Zealand and NPS Regulatory Innovation: example, for Zealand, New officers. enforcement law by applied be should approaches “Innovative on the is safe substance the proving of onus the places that legislation creative enacted has of the UNODC, 2013 seller.”—Yuri Fedotov, Executive Director although possession for personal consumption of small amounts of amounts of small consumption personal for possession although of countries. been decriminalized in a number all drugs have also in the North of Argentina from Bolivia. No hemispheric State is State No hemispheric Bolivia. from of Argentina in the North or cocaine either of on legalization forward to move yet prepared opposition, public substantial the given or sale, production heroin heterogeneous regimes surrounding cannabis. International trade International cannabis. surrounding regimes heterogeneous of number a among enabled been has form natural its in coca of consumption legal significant the supply to example, for countries, ultimately need to become more flexible. need to become ultimately of patchwork a is hemisphere the in situation the point, this At to maintain most of the original language governing the control of control the governing language original of the most to maintain pre the that acknowledge also they But substances. psychoactive will system treaty the that and exists, longer no consensus vious cline in the authority of the international conventions and lobby and conventions of the international the authority in cline - - - - ; by developing and applying better evidence-based prac evidence-based better applying and ; by developing tices; by reducing significantly the burden on police, prisons, and drug and drug-market of both level the by reducing and courts; control-related violence, the benefits from the legal regulation of acknowledged. some drugs are understood and active substances in the North. But the effects of new cannabis new of effects the But North. the in substances active a but revenue tax government only increased not include policies of organized crime in this area. significant disruption of the profits different countries to pursue By creating space to enable different pathways of the continent against creating a legal regulatory framework for for framework regulatory a legal creating against continent the of stimulants for options regulatory about debate serious a cocaine, maintenance stimulant with experimentation Some place. is taking harm and problem, is a serious crack where is occurring treatment and crack supporting and engaging on focus that efforts reduction some and Brazil in developed well are users cocaine pasta-based other jurisdictions. remains, still declining, although violence, and crime Organized some although – South the in trafficking cocaine to related largely illicit the into diversify to attempting are groups crime organized psycho new and pharmaceuticals of distribution and manufacture By 2025, the fixed lens on prohibiting drugs has become a kaleido a become has drugs prohibiting on lens fixed the 2025, By psycho new some and leaf, coca cannabis, to approaches of scope much throughout firm remains opposition While substances. active drug.”

overdose or of a deadly overdose the appropriate dose is. the appropriate contaminant being in the

Ecstasy they have no idea Our policies maximize the When young people ingest risk to the user of a deadly “Our policies make heroin heroin “Our policies make what exactly is in the drug. dangerous to a user because to a user because dangerous one never knows what one is one never knows what injecting or smoking or what injecting or smoking Organization of American States of American Organization 52 2013 – 2025 RESILIENCE

2013 – 2025 55 - - - - Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios is the story of a profound change in perspective about perspective in change a profound of story is the

with abstinence-based treatment objectives. To apply the acquired understanding about understanding acquired the apply To objectives. treatment abstinence-based with treatment, prevention, of context the within effectively use drug of patterns problematic different between distinctions clear making requires interventions reduction harm and different the with associated risks and harmfulness the between and use of patterns substances available on the illicit and licit markets. that the percentage of drug-dependent patients who are able to maintain abstinence and abstinence to maintain able who are patients of drug-dependent percentage the that appro achieve to able are who mellitus II Type diabetes with patients of percentage the disorder is similar: 40 to 60 per cent. priate control over their metabolic response reduction harm pragmatic a parallel for need the demonstrates statistic This to substance use disorders for the significant portion of people incapable of complying chronic problems that respond to treatment, with a series of markers that are potentially are that of markers a series with to treatment, respond that problems chronic disor use substance Severe use. substance address to strategies developing in useful smokeable and heroin, as alcohol, such substances, harmful most the involving ders, lead even and life of quality the affect seriously can that conditions medical are cocaine, are There them. have who of those functioning and life the threaten that to conditions specific treatments for these disorders, whichhelp a significant percentage of patients; reported been It has frequent. are relapses conditions, chronic other with as however, Research over the last few decades in the neurosciences has yielded evidence of a close a of evidence yielded has neurosciences the in decades few last the over Research in including behaviors, drug-using and brain the of structures the between relationship may be caused that effects long-term and use; short- drug to problematic predisposition role of environmental factors. by substance use; and the important Evidence from neuroscience also supports the definition of substance use disorders as Drug Addiction as a Disease and confidence in the justice system and other governmental insti governmental other and system justice the in confidence and ployment, and a decline in the strength of character, community of character, strength in the a decline and ployment, youth for necessary network support neighborhood the and values, trust public low In addition, adulthood. to successfully transition to rather, an array of troubling risk factors has contributed to the to contributed has factors risk troubling of array an rather, drug especially level, community the at frustration and desperation unem families, dysfunctional use, drug problematic and trafficking order to address the rising levels of violence, gang activity, prison activity, gang violence, of levels rising the address to order in many parts to drugs related exclusion and social overcrowding, – problems these to has led cause No single hemisphere. the of This change begins when a new effort is felt to be necessary in necessary be to is felt effort a new when begins This change – its own resilience. the grassroots level up. Like a healthy body, a healthy community community a healthy body, a healthy up. Like level grassroots the of or violence of epidemic an is it whether ‘epidemic’, an off fights effectively respond to capacity own its through dependence, drug trafficking, or changing the legal or regulatory regime, national and national regime, regulatory or legal the changing or trafficking, on people is to focus approach best the that recognize leaders local from communities strengthen and rebuild to and drugs than rather Resilience found. be can problem drug hemispheric the to solution the where and production drug on suppressing primarily focusing than Rather Resilience Resilience ------cians who feel that their interests are being threatened, there is there threatened, being are interests their that who feel cians realized being not are results feel who those from resistance also quickly enough. the throughout happening are changes grassroots these While A UN General shift. to begins also context global the hemisphere, a private there, and called, is on drugs Session Special Assembly from focus in this shift who discuss leaders, among is held meeting drug control to community resilience. Like many profound changes, this one starts gradually and gath and gradually starts one this changes, profound many Like advance communities and countries Some time. over strength ers who mayor, pioneering a example, For others. than quickly more invests heav in focus, this change behind power the understands ily in these programs, and after fivereduction, in homicide results very positive yielding are initiatives years, it looks rep is as example This improvement. if these health and reduction, trafficking achieve case-by-case the years, ten after and by others, licated in that such a slow process This is trend. a regional become ments politi and institutions the from backlash expected to the addition of local governments, non-governmental organizations, and busi and organizations, non-governmental governments, local of citizens engage and to collaborate by attempting respond nesses more broadly. train the example, for include, initiatives community-based These and prevention in themselves communities the from people of ing programs; reduction harm users; drug problematic of treatment activities, sponsored and youth; target that programs education to join individuals excluded socially encourage that such as sports, result also communities Closer a gang. than rather team a sports more are members community so that information of sharing the in who needs help. often aware of tutions in many countries has led to the development of local and local of development to the has led countries in many tutions effective and comprehensive more for calling coalitions national A number communities. within initiatives justice and health, social, centers, capable of guaranteeing free treatment for drug addicts. To date, more than more To date, addicts. drug for treatment free of guaranteeing capable centers, dispensing the including policies, reduction Harm care. received have people 200,000 During the 80’s and the beginning of the 90’s, Spain suffered a heroin epidemic that epidemic heroin a suffered 90’s, Spain the of beginning the 80’s and the During the leading Drugs became problem. security and citizen health public a serious caused drug to linked AIDS cases new and cities, big the in youth the among of death cause In of Europe. head the at Spain in 1993-95, putting a year cases 3,500 reached injection intense an generated consumption with associated in crime increase a notable addition, social alarm. This crisis. this to response in Drugs on Plan a National initiated as 1985, Spain As early evolved has consensus, social and political a and approach health public a on based Plan, over almost thirty years. The first efforts were directed toward creating a broad and diversified network of Dealing with the Heroin Crisis: A Case Study from Spain Dealing with the Heroin Crisis: A Case Study from

it to be the gasoline.” the 1990s, Canadians the 1990s, Canadians youth in the Canadian youth in the Canadian of paper bags with their of paper bags with their our urban TV screens in screens our urban TV “When television flashed “When television flashed

North—some as young as North—some as young 11 and 12, huffing gas out 11 those images of Davis Inlet those images of Davis immediately understood the problem, and no one figured and no one figured problem, vacant-looking eyes—across vacant-looking eyes—across Organization of American States of American Organization 56 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 57 - - - “Focusing on controlling “Focusing on controlling drugs is like looking for your car keys under the when you lost streetlight them a block away in the dark.” ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios diseases (such as tuberculosis and hepatitis) among intravenous drug users. There are still consequences from this crisis, but the efficacy of these policies is unquestionable: a significant reduction inthe thousands incidencefor life of andquality and prevalence health in ofimprovement and mortality, thein decline usea 2011), of heroin (0.1% in place, taken has change A cultural declined. also have rates crime Associated people. of con of heroine risk perceived and the rejection, in social use results heroin too – today, sumption is high among youth. After ten years of applying these policies, the most serious effects of the heroin epidem heroin the of effects serious most the policies, these applying of years ten After prevalence consumption the then declined; deaths First, overdose to diminish. ic began important most the of One dropped. also demand treatment the slowly, then, dropped; injection 1990, in use: intravenous of reduction drastic the was success of indicators only 17%. in 2000 they represented treated; addicts 50% of heroin represented users infectious and other in HIV-AIDS infections drop important the explain numbers These of methadone and the exchange of syringes, have also grown. A consequence of this is this of consequence A grown. also have syringes, of exchange the and methadone of in 2003. in 1995 to 88,700 from 28,806 addicts grew that methadone fam school, through increased was education prevention mid-nineties, the in In addition, programs. ily, and community use issues within their local communities with new vigor and ef and vigor new with communities local their issues within use 2025.” Under this joint effort, countries focus on the challenges of challenges the on focus countries effort, joint this Under 2025.” social community reform, prison use prevention, drug and violence substance problematic and employment, education, development, Donors from throughout the region and beyond step forward to forward step beyond and region the throughout from Donors “Resilience is called which initiatives, linked of a series fund help on their needs and appropriate intervention strategies, and that and strategies, intervention appropriate and needs their on also surely would success, for metrics clear and harmonized have make a difference. Fund, and the global success of policies to prevent smoking. If smoking. to prevent of policies success global Fund, and the ini an then past, the in succeeded have these like challenges large focus that approaches through communities to strengthen tiative An initiative begins, largely through social media, citing the suc the citing media, social through largely begins, initiative An Marshall the like past, the from achievements visionary of cess UN by the Population planning of family dissemination the Plan, phasize violence prevention and community strengthening, begins strengthening, community and prevention violence phasize to re-establish a hemispheric consensus on drug and crime issues. dums of Understanding (MOUs) with each other to allow the shar the allow to other each with (MOUs) Understanding of dums new These proceeds. illicit drug-related of assets forfeited of ing to em assistance of foreign a re-balancing with combined funds, increase controls of exports of weapons and ratify the Inter-Amer the ratify and weapons of exports of controls increase ican Convention Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Memoran negotiate countries these time, same At the Firearms. which heightens the attractiveness of good relations. which heightens the attractiveness countries hemispheric violence, to combat attempt this To help humanitarian effort to strengthen communities, with a focus on focus a with communities, strengthen to effort humanitarian for impetus the of Part control. drug than rather reduction violence countries, developing the of power economic growing is the this In response to aid requests from the countries and regions suffer and regions countries the from In to aid requests response complex the in join to agree countries developed violence, from ing ------programs, sports and cultural programs for underprivileged com underprivileged for programs cultural and sports programs, a successful for skills basic programs, training vocational munities, community- and parents, undereducated young, for programs life pro other these all With region. the for programs policing based of re-allocating goal original the as well, support needing grams violence evidence-based to funding enforcement law drug of 25% met is not programs reduction and harm use prevention and drug at to have occurred shifts budget some by 2020, even though country. least initiate pilot programs in every for personal use in most regions, drug treatment courts, probation courts, treatment drug regions, most in use personal for pris within services health counseling, and monitoring, services, in initiatives justice restorative and users, drug-dependent ons for of number increased an to lead – all offenders and victims volving people who benefit to such an extent that many of them manage turn, in successes, These lives. work and families their rebuild to in health and community cohesion, family of crime, levels impact a number of areas. Such efforts are supported by the flowering of initiatives in other related fields as well: regional Responsible Fatherhood and Moth education prison schools, for programs values campaigns, erhood fectiveness. fectiveness. The significantly expanded drug and alcohol programs, intervention early and screening reduction, harm ment, treat possession of decriminalization incarceration, to alternatives and

through adulthood) Workplace prevention (adolescence and adulthood) Parenting skills programs (early and middle childhood, and adolescence) Early childhood education Personal and social skills, and social influences in education (middle childhood and adolescence) Class-room management skills (middle childhood) Implementation of alcohol and tobacco policies (early adolescence through adult hood) Community-based multi-component initiatives (all ages) Screening, brief intervention, and referral for treatment – SBIRT (early adolescence

• • • • • • • • for populations on the verge of initiating use can also be helpful. Evidence-Based Drug Use Prevention Evidence-Based Prevention inter comprehensive been have programs prevention drug successful most the To date, class managing practices; parenting positive adopt parents helping at aimed ventions take that Programs skills. of social range a broad developing and environments; room target or country of each customs and practices, differences, cultural the account into group yield the best results. programs. prevention drug for lessons important potentially provide alcohol and Tobacco of hours reduced restrictions, density distribution taxes, higher alcohol, In the case of mea other among consumption, for ages minimum bans, and setting advertising sale, interventions targeted use. Brief, harmful reducing in effective be to shown have sures, Organization of American States of American Organization 58 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 59

- “The drug issue is not so as it much a crime problem is an economic and social problem.” ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios Information dissemination only dissemination Information media campaigns science-based and non-prevention Non-theoretical activities other leisure time Sports or • • • Non-Evidence Based Non-Evidence Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Standards on Drug Use Prevention, United Source: International Drug treatment courts link drug-dependent offenders to substance-abuse treatment and treatment substance-abuse to offenders drug-dependent link courts treatment Drug Integral monitoring. judicial rigorous and testing drug frequent through progress monitor attorneys, defense prosecutors, judges, among communication regular are: model the to informa up-to-date accurate of sharing ensure to staff court and providers, treatment foster to sanctions and rewards graduated of system a response; coordinated a and tion Alternatives to Incarceration for Drug-Dependent Alternatives to Incarceration for Drug-Dependent Offenders Drug Treatment Courts (Chile, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Costa Rica, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe) illness are referred to appropriate treatment rather than being in being than rather treatment to appropriate referred are illness carcerated. forces, law enforcement institutions develop close partnerships partnerships close develop institutions enforcement law forces, encounter police whom people that ensure to agencies health with mental or disorder use a substance either from suffering are who designed to work with drug-dependent populations as well as low- well as populations drug-dependent with to work designed technical and training in these also included – are dealers level security and by police excesses past Noting programs. assistance communities who want to move away from the penalty model of model penalty the from away move to want who communities alterna other and courts Community offenses. drug to response models parole and probation new as – such incarceration to tives and decriminalization for personal use in an increasing number of number increasing an in use personal for decriminalization and treatment drug with countries from leaders Community countries. other for assistance and technical training offer in place courts and drug-related crime from a tendency to use repressive penalties to use repressive tendency a from crime drug-related and and social prevention early for education on effective to a focus people young at aimed initiatives through especially development, lieved to help in deterring all criminal activities, including drug use. drug including activities, criminal all deterring in help to lieved to drugs responses the 2025” changes “Resilience Yet, gradually, some Latin American countries, where violence, gang activity, and activity, gang violence, where countries, American Latin some to response health-based community a low, relatively are use drug be penalties strict on relying than relevant less seems problem the eral Caribbean countries, needed in order to fund increases in com increases to fund in order needed countries, Caribbean eral by accompanied is services, health and prevention violence munity In and violence. in crime increase and a short-term layoffs police Efforts to transfer funds from security and law enforcement bud enforcement and law security from funds to transfer Efforts gets are partially successful, but cause significant blowback. An in sev police of the budgets in the reduction percent ten average This difficulty in identifying sufficient fundingposes challenges to support. for targeted programs many the of implementation full the ------uted inadequate funding. In 2021, hemispheric leaders express a express leaders In 2021, hemispheric funding. inadequate uted of coun 2025,” and a number to “Resilience commitment renewed clash with already-entrenched interests and programs. These con These programs. and interests already-entrenched with clash policy- the at also but level, community the at only not occur flicts implementation level where local officials find it difficult to let go to or discredited ago long has community expert the that ideas of into programs these integrate to Failure interests. vested challenge when that means services education and health, social, existing budgets are squeezed, established programs are firstfunds, leaving new programs to starve and sometimes die. in line for 2025” “Resilience of implementation uneven the countries, In some the against a backlash including consequences, unintended creates contrib of having accused are who nations, its donor and program inclusion approach is needed – a full range of housing, treatment, housing, of range – a full is needed approach inclusion out community-based including approaches, reduction harm and syringe as such interventions treatment, youth treatment, patient substitution in innovations problem), a is injecting (where exchange services, consumption supervised users, paste coca for treatment low-threshold to access and populations, marginalized to outreach employment opportunities. and social police, judges, of number the however, cases, In many few too are leaders community other and workers, care health attempts instances, In other needs. social the to all respond to issue drug the to address programs evidence-based to implement There is general agreement that a comprehensive health and social health a comprehensive that agreement is general There curred. Research in the US has shown they can reduce recidivism, contribute to reduc to contribute recidivism, reduce can they shown has US the in Research curred. trust in the justice system. tions in crime, and increase public a (HOPE), Enforcement with Probation Opportunity Hawaii’s is model this of variation A and frequent conducting by use drug and crime reduce to aims that program supervision incarceration immediate and short of threat the with probationers of tests drug random include recidivism and reduce integration social promote that efforts Other failure. for and courts community developing and prison, in while offenders drug-dependent treating com and local involving that suggests evidence programs, these In all courts. reentry munity actors is critical for success. drug treatment courts reduce recidivism on average from 8 to 12 percentage points. to 12 percentage average from 8 recidivism on courts reduce drug treatment Courts Community Europe) (US, Canada, Australia, power the harness to attempt that courts neighborhood-focused are courts Community itself neighborhood the They consider problems. local system to address of the justice (usually neighborhood injured the back pay to offenders require and crime of victim the by performing community restitution). They also mandate illness. mental or addiction drug as such problems, underlying their for help get to ate, offenders, when appropri as such stakeholders, outside with and system justice the within collaboration Through aggres and new test courts community schools, and churches, merchants, residents, oc has it after crime to responding merely than rather safety public to approaches sive compliance; and links to other services, such as job training and housing, to help sub help to housing, and training as job such services, other to and links compliance; shown US has the in Research life. drug-free – a maintain – and attain abusers stance in people’s daily lives in people’s

of state borders to the of state borders crime, unemployment, (or human insecurity). by a variety of threats, by a variety of threats, reduction of insecurity reduction security is undermined In every society, human In every society,

human security remains a human security remains must shift from the idea of must shift from including hunger, disease, including hunger, environmental challenges. environmental a militaristic safeguarding a militaristic safeguarding universal quest for freedom universal quest for freedom differs across the world, but differs across from want and fear.”—2013 want and fear.”—2013 from human rights violations and “ . . . the concept of security Human Development Report The intensity of these threats The intensity of these threats Organization of American States of American Organization 60 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 61 justice system.” “Back in the old days the “Back in the old days in judges knew everyone a town and could be like talking to father-figure, everyone. People today become numbers in our courts. What drug courts have encouraged us to do humanity to the is return ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios major drug kingpins and gang leaders, especially those guilty of guilty those especially leaders, gang and kingpins drug major criminal activities. to only given are drugs to related penalties criminal Substantial ing community health-centered approaches for those with an un an with those for approaches health-centered community ing and dealers drug low-level for or disorder, use substance derlying serious to more or to progress gangs to join most vulnerable those tries, most nations see gang activity and violence as challenges as challenges violence and activity see gang nations most tries, They ac initiatives. prevention community through addressed best implement and exclusion social with dealing of wisdom the cept ized government directives to being led at the regional and local and regional the at led being to directives ized government coun within and among is some variation there Although level. With this refocused hemispheric partnership, approaches to the to approaches partnership, hemispheric refocused this With reduc harm selected prevention, to control from shift issue drug by central driven being from and treatment, and measures, tion gradually become aware that they are a fundamental part of the of part fundamental a are they that aware become gradually solution and not just victims of the problem. munication policy are helping citizens to develop a more realistic a more to develop citizens helping are policy munication health- of perception the clarify to and problem drug the of view citizens Similarly, families. their and themselves for risks related and budgeting. com and an effective run long over the work community Dedicated and overdose protection among injection drug users – in all these all – in users drug injection among protection overdose and in just not enshrined become and shared are practices best areas, programming but in every nation’s strategy, drug every nation’s adhering to the principle of proportionality in sentencing, providing in sentencing, of proportionality to the principle adhering services reduction harm and health alcohol and drug intensive more prevention HIV, hepatitis and including users, problematic most for es to incarceration, instilling strong values as part of comprehen of part as values strong instilling incarceration, to es early providing rights, human protecting programs, sive prevention use disorders, substance with individuals for services intervention certain areas and slowly begin to expand as the benefitscommunities resilient Building apparent. more become approach of the approach reforming and employment, education improving though just words – it becomes a local reality in many countries through countries in many reality a local – it becomes words just universally not are reforms these Although hemisphere. the out in root take to begin do they countries, all through implemented aspects of one particular problem within it. aspects of one particular than more becomes approach balanced of a concept the Over time to resilient people and communities, a different set of metrics begins and communities, a different to resilient people to reflect thechanged priorities. The hemisphere begins to measure than and safety rather of health societies in terms the success of its The first is the growing prosperity of the region, which creates a larg a creates which region, the of prosperity growing the is first The initiatives. The second for these social and health er pool of resources focus shifts from drugs as the subtle but powerful: development is contributions to those countries that most need it. that most to those countries contributions greater success. 2025” towards “Resilience push Two developments tries with the strongest economies in the region make additional additional make region in the economies strongest the with tries ------and to acknowledge the need for social reforms. failures lead to increases in the use of tobacco and alcohol and and alcohol use of tobacco in the to increases lead failures Con opiates. and cocaine, cannabis, of use the in increases then disturbing this about hemisphere the across expressed are cerns in a to be moving had appeared when so many indicators trend positive direction. organi community-based the disappointments, these of In spite as hemisphere the across developed has that framework zational reassess to opportunities 2025” provides “Resilience of result a all across delivery service in gaps identify to and anomalies these so resilient on building of focussing change paradigm The sectors. solutions for inward to look and governments people forces cieties needs has been aided by the economic development of the hemi the of development economic by the aided been has needs poorer in even employment, more has produced which sphere, treatment and reduction harm alcohol Drug and neighborhoods. violence, Gang them. request who most for available are services as measured harms, related alcohol and drug and exclusion, social de steadily but slowly have surveys, OAS by hemispheric-wide clined throughout the hemisphere. In time. over efforts maintain is to however, challenge, great The and evalua monitoring ongoing to support failure some countries, pre drug and crime of quality lowering the to leads research tion These interventions. treatment drug and of gang then and vention to complete education programs, opening more opportunities for opportunities more opening programs, education to complete of number the increasing styles and for life and stable employment class. middle the into move who communities poorer from youth activities, and cultural in sports participate to begin More youth religious NGOs, and sector, private by the sponsored many of them institutions. gov other and justice in trust public communities, of number In a ef engagement civic of result a as risen has institutions ernment in fully participate to commitment their keep fathers More forts. family meet to ability their because part in children, their raising penalties, do community work, and spend an important amount of of amount important an spend and work, community do penalties, Re the by offered programs in the or in values re-education in time initia 2025” “Resilience the of part form that Communities silient more cooperating be to appear society civil and Government tive. treatment and prevention evidence-based that ensure to closely available. readily are interventions prevention violence and services successes. initial some to point can leaders By 2020 community hemi the throughout communities weaker, are groups Criminal al involvement, gang and rates crime and stronger, are sphere manage more become have and reduced are present, still though options have now regions troubled once in Youth challenges. able violence against innocent victims. Drug retailers at the commu the at retailers Drug victims. innocent against violence that model justice a restorative under treated often are nity level pay monetary they must where community, to the them exposes the community.”

Let’s take a look at non- Let’s

just keep building prisons. just keep building prisons. violent drug offenders and “People do get better with a holistic approach. Don’t Don’t a holistic approach. where possible treat them in possible treat where Organization of American States of American Organization 62 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 63 “Drug use prevention use prevention “Drug impact tend to programs too – they other behavior, failure academic address kids in and keeping employees in schools and so many are place. There It’s associated outcomes. than keeping people more off drugs.” - - - Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios put people and communities at the center of concern is encourag concern of center the at communities and people put a common against act to hemisphere the throughout countries ing communities. building resilient citizens and challenge through use, they have managed to educate many young people to make make to people young many educate to managed have they use, prevent to ways effective more found have they choices, wise to choice The partnerships. strengthened have they and violence, By 2025, most of the current problems still exist, but many com exist, but still problems current the of most By 2025, consequenc serious most the mitigate to managed have munities drug problematic from recover citizens their have helped es. They

DISRUPTION

2013 – 2025 67 “In politics, people never try never people “In politics, only to to bind themselves, bind the others.”– attributed Arup Seip to historian Jens - - - - Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios

transit in exchange for a relative internal ‘social peace’. policy that they believe prevailed in previous decades in one coun one in decades previous in prevailed believe they that policy agreements tacit to reach appeared governments which try under with trafficking organizations so as to not severely impede drug of drug transit in several countries of the region, whose police whose region, of the countries in several transit of drug of result a as exhausted be to seem apparatus judicial and forces to the years. They refer recent during violence in criminal rise the tivities, providing harm reduction services, and adopting stringent stringent adopting and services, reduction harm providing tivities, ana various meeting, the After corruption. contain to measures less control mean will of priorities reorientation this that lysts infer its security resources and establish its priorities in the areas of of areas the in priorities its establish and resources security its strengtheningdrug problematic for treatment providing education, ac money-laundering use, controlling substance preventing users, Later in 2016, at a summit meeting of Central American countries, countries, Later in 2016, at a summit meeting of Central American in the one of the governments that had been the most critical that it has decided to refocus Assembly announces OAS General lives and resources. After all, they argue, an international treaty international an argue, they all, After resources. and lives shouldn’t amount to a suicide pact. tion countries, the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis of consumption and sale, production, the countries, tion on “war a maintain must countries their while legalized, is being in costs high such presents – that cocaine – especially drugs” increasingly is it that highlight representatives these Informally, destina- within jurisdictions some in that unfair and contradictory with the expression, “We are the ones who are paying the highest the paying are who ones the are “We expression, the with current The lives. most the losing are who ones the are We price. situation is unjust.” tinue to be affected by the violence associated with the transit of transit the with associated violence by the affected to be tinue end usually discussions These countries. other for destined drugs tries would provide additional assistance to producer or transit or producer to assistance additional provide would tries made commitments that state representatives Several countries. con- countries their that and materialized yet not have time that at through their territory, and that this situation is intolerable. Some is intolerable. situation this that and territory, their through since progress of lack the by cheated feel they that add them of coun developed more that it was agreed where 2013 meeting, the ican representatives declare that for them, the most important and important most the them, for that declare representatives ican by caused deaths of thousands of tens the is problem drug urgent drugs of transit the with associated are which of many violence, But by the 2016 General Assembly, it is apparent that very little that it is apparent Assembly, 2016 General But by the of many and the frustration achieved, been actually has progress Amer- Central Several is palpable. representatives country member and member countries agree to strengthen the implementation and implementation the to strengthen agree countries member and their drug-related policies. coordination of During the 2013 General Assembly of the OAS, the Report on the on Report the of the OAS, Assembly General 2013 the During as acknowledged and presented is Americas the in Problem Drug debate, vigorous a generates report This reference. important an Disruption Disruption ------which holds that the architecture of security should be flexible and and flexible be should security of architecture the that holds which that it is up to each state to define it. cartels were broken up. A number of countries, particularly those particularly countries, of A number up. broken were cartels sov it is the that declare and transit, in both production involved decisions policy domestic own their to make states of right ereign and as outdated view they what over is paramount this that and ineffectual drug conventions and the resulting treaty obligations. pos- the that who argue by analysts view is reinforced This latter as transit and production on drug policies of differentiated sibility a way of prioritizing action in this field in relation to other areas, is not laundering, money or use, violence, drug as preventing such “Mul of concept the with associated principles the conflictwith in in 2003, States Member by OAS adopted Security” tidimensional criminal states and have more difficulty in obtaining development system. financial trusted a of guarantee no be will there as money to hesitate will investors private legitimate reason, same the For invest in such countries. only are seizures drug that counter however, governments, Other tell don’t and approach enforcement-centered of a law aspect one coun one to They point violence. and crime about story whole the operations cartel drug disrupt to campaign intensive the where try more where to a second, and rates, in homicide to an increase led operations against cocaine trafficking initially led to an increase in violence in ports and border cities in the first country before the be developing would be an increasing flow of drugs through the common consumption, drug with problems and increasing area, crime, and family breakdown. respectabil buy to begin will criminals out, point they Furthermore, public with and socializing clinics health and schools ity by funding communi the of members accepted become will they and officials, votes for to pay for begin they will position this To maintain ties. centers two creating agenda, their support who officials public the run one and government is the – one that state in the of power into evolve will criminals the tolerating countries The by criminals. eas, they would rather see some form of collective solution to the to solution collective of form some see rather would they eas, what is which ones, unilateral divergent various not and problem differentiated a that concerned are They happening. be to seems in consumption and crime, trafficking, greater foster will approach and lead to reduced enforcement. these countries to re is impossible it that argue matters in security Specialists had before decades that country the of experience the produce appeared to make tacit agreements with narcotraffickers. Today, de having powerful, more much are groups trafficking argue, they past. They in the did not exist that to corrupt a potential veloped to appears that policy the of outcome probable most the that note Some governments in the continent distance themselves from this from themselves distance continent the in governments Some under they fully although that indicating policy, in change possible stand the situation that particularly afflicts many drug transit ar The Economist, 27 February 2013 “Mexicans complain “Mexicans complain

States, with its soft gun States, with its soft

that the notion of ‘shared that the notion of ‘shared killed whereas the United killed whereas launders their money and laws, arms the traffickers, responsibility’ proclaimed proclaimed responsibility’ consumes their product.”– consumes their product.”– means that their people get means that their people by international bureaucrats by international bureaucrats Organization of American States of American Organization 68 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 69 “Some countries don’t “Some countries don’t want to get rid of really the transnational criminal These bring organizations. billions of dollars into their They would just economy. to like these organizations behave.” “Central America America “Central simply with this cannot cope beyond It is totally problem. since there its capabilities, a tremendous is already the security problem, of the legacy of the violence conflict armed conflict. The rule of changed because the to law was not established it; people continue resolve by to solve their conflicts shooting each other.” ------Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios attribute to the measures adopted. arrests in some of the countries in which this approach is being approach this which in countries the of in some arrests a has also been there countries, of these In some implemented. indirectly authorities which murders, of number the in reduction After almost two years of implementation, the new hands-off ap hands-off new the implementation, of years two almost After proach towards cocaine production and trafficking has resulted in a reduction in the reported number of drug seizures and trafficker policy change and to bring all countries back into alignment with alignment into back countries all bring to and change policy their legal and moral responsibilities to the global community. allowed and that the time to react is now, before it becomes too becomes it before now, is react to time the that and allowed this reverse to action immediate demand leaders global Other late. Political leaders and journalists around the globe argue that the that argue globe the around journalists and leaders Political ‘narco- become will policy this implementing are that countries be not should situation this that protest neighbors Their states’. territories provokes strong reactions. Voices are heard proclaim heard are Voices reactions. strong provokes territories aban only not it since situation unacceptable is an this that ing security. regional threatens severely also it obligations, treaty dons In the global community the possibility that some countries are countries some that possibility the community global In the production the disregard to them allows that a policy implementing their through – in and cocaine – particularly of drugs transit and icy. The news is extensively disseminated internationally while the while internationally disseminated is extensively icy. The news confirm nor deny it. governments concerned neither countries that have long been transit routes for cocaine heading cocaine for routes transit been long have that countries of possibility the considering are Africa West and Europe toward pol criminals” on focus to drugs “hands-off a similar implementing DC, increase the percentage of their anti-drug funds dedicated to dedicated funds anti-drug of their percentage the DC, increase technology. advanced and training including enforcement, border Caribbean two that report media local time, same the about At hold ties of cooperation with the international community in terms in community international the with cooperation of ties hold but economy, drug illegal to the related activities of containing UNO and OAS/CICAD as such bodies, international that insist also In the context of similar statements, governments in key Central governments statements, of similar In the context up to commitments reiterate corridors drug American South and this new policy prioritizes violence reduction, and that although and that reduction, violence prioritizes policy this new not are they attention, receiving still are efforts counter-narcotics at the center of government policy. ing their responsibilities to control drug trafficking in and through to answer fail criticized are that The governments territory. their that point the make comments unofficial but directly, claims these operations. of neglect to be accused begin of governments a number Soon to recent policies adopted in Central America where countries fo countries where America in Central adopted policies to recent violence gang and crime on non-drug efforts enforcement cus law cartel drug against enforcement ignore and countries their within similar domestic problems indicate that they might adopt the same same the adopt they might that indicate problems domestic similar reports Media violence. reduce to order in attitude independent similar a policy implementing are governments some that suggest Not long after the Central American summit, other countries with countries other summit, American Central the after Not long ------cost of doing business for the cartels. react by pointing out that they are abiding by their commitments to commitments by their abiding they are out that by react pointing not are policies security internal their that and conventions these econ drug illegal the regarding permissiveness of terms in defined drugs these of some combating in priorities of in terms omy, but needs. and circumstances national particular their of context the in the to true more being fact in are they that argue countries Other is most there where resources modest their by putting conventions most that problem drug of the aspects the in addressing impact control border on focus countries Northern them. affect directly they if even seizures, drug but out, point they interdiction, and increased significantly from current levels, are in reality merely a increased purity as a result of the reduction of enforcement opera of enforcement reduction of the as a result purity increased tions in transit countries. During the first quarter of 2018, the International Narcotics Con it what criticizes strongly it which in a report issues Board trol defines as the “permissiveness” of some countries regarding the a is attitude this that indicating drugs, of transit and production Con 1961 Single the in adopted commitments the of violation on Psychotropic 1971 Convention Drugs, the on Narcotic vention Substances, and the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Nar report 1988. As the of Substances Psychotropic and Drugs cotic specifically mentions some countries,corresponding governments and what was predicted will become a self-fulfillingconverted into ‘narco-states’. these countries will have been prophecy – in react region surrounding of the parties and political The public imple the to opposition significant is there some In ways. various represents it that argument the with policy, new the of mentation reac dominant the In others, past.” the of worst the to return “a is homicide in reduction initial the although is indifference, tion drugs the for destination final the are that countries The welcome. cocaine of volume the in increase an turn, in experiencing, are and cost, decreased availability, in increase an to due consumption becoming magnets for the drug cartels. Together with describing Together the drug cartels. magnets for becoming criminality in their and drug consumption of increasing the problems the growing poweranalysts and commentators recount territories, of those coun appear to have. The economies that cartel leaders number of wealthy a boost by the expanding tries have received gated and built large to the region have relocated cartel leaders who lawyers, bodyguards, local laborers, hired have and who mansions, personal and other staff to support their growing accountants, and business operations. These cartel leaders are gaining influence in of these countries. politics, and in the institutions the economy, in that these crimi analysts argue, it is inevitable In the future, these in their societies, develop into respected leaders nal leaders will After two more years, however, local and international media local and international however, two more years, After that substan countries American Central report that those sources are increasingly operations enforcement drug their tially reduced country.” compass.” criminal charges. It criminal charges. authorities dropping authorities dropping that the HSBC bank, traffickers, will pay a

in which the producer producer in which the never stop demanding accused of ‘laundering’ accused of ‘laundering’ in exchange for the U.S. “A bad future is a future is a future future bad “A turns out that banks that money for Mexican drug America act more firmly, firmly, America act more fine of 1.9 billion dollars

countries continue not to countries business in the world—in business in the world—in the United States, Europe the United States, Europe which the drug traffickers which the drug traffickers equally strict in their own the double standard that’s that’s the double standard that the countries of Latin exploit the most profitable exploit the most profitable and Latin America, and in and Latin short, a future in which we in which we short, a future coordinate with each other, each other, with coordinate This is the final evidence of are thus able to continue to thus able to continue to are clarity or consensus among clarity or consensus countries and the consumer countries a future in which there is no there in which a future perpetuate the problem now perpetuate the problem now at work: the Americans now at work: the but are not capable of being but are “It has just been announced have the ability to pay a fine in order to avoid a sanction. to avoid a sanction. in order continue not to use the same continue not to use Organization of American States of American Organization 70 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 71 “Interdiction is a joke. At is a joke. “Interdiction 5% of most it will net you this is the drug flows, and as seen by the traffickers business. just a cost of doing They will find another just stopping like It’s route. up one mouse hole—there not enough resources are have We to stop all routes. and good good projects intentions, but the lack of amongst us coordination failing.” means that we’re - - - - - Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios nized crime have increased throughout the hemisphere. nized crime have increased throughout hands-off policy. orga and drugs over conflicts and tensions international 2025, By tion and transit of any type of drug would be seen as a hostile act, as a hostile be seen would of any type of drug and transit tion to mitigate security border to strengthen efforts and it initiates a such of neighbor by its implementation possible the from risks The government of a country that borders on this latter drug pro drug latter on this borders that of a country The government in decrease any that by saying reacts country transit and duction produc the against fighting is neighbor its which with severity the try, and that it does not rule out the application of measures to measures of application the out rule not does it that and try, the illegal drug economy. modify its own priorities for confronting mainly involves South American countries. In another drug produc drug another In countries. American South involves mainly domestic that reiterates government the country, transit and tion coun each and government each to exclusive are decisions policy to those being implemented in some Central American countries, American Central some in implemented being those to of their needs priority to the directly more respond would as this which controversy, new a to lead statements These security. own government opposition in a South American drug producer and producer drug American a South in opposition government the study should government their that suggest country transit similar policy domestic in their priorities establishing of possibility reducing cartel access to weapons. reducing cartel of members of 2019, important beginning in the context, In this as they pursue diplomatic efforts to get countries to reverse the the reverse to countries get to efforts diplomatic pursue they as countries of these efforts the time At the same policy. hands-off to disrupt the flow of arms across their bordersdo not succeed in violations, referring to the INCB report, and continues to pressure pressure to continues and report, INCB the to referring violations, the governments. However, no specific measuresreprisals in effecting restraint show countries American North and areadopted, The global community reiterates its complaint against the treaty treaty the against complaint its reiterates community global The

2013 – 2025 73 - - -

Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios

County, United States of America Consultant, and former Secretary of CONACE of Chile Gino Costa Former Minister of Interior, former Deputy Ombudsman, and current President of Ciudad Nuestra of Peru Sandro Costa Santos Deputy Coordinator of Human Security, Viva Rio, Brazil Rogelio Flores Superior Court Judge, Santa Barbara Department, Organization of American Department, Organization of American States Marisol Calix Local Coordinator of Armando Paz at Honduras Marcela Chacón Deputy Minister of Interior and Police, and focal point for the SICA Regional Security Strategy of Costa Rica María Teresa Chadwick Prevention and Management Director, Álvaro Briones Interim Director of the Public Security

Commissioner, Ministry of the Presidency of Costa Rica Mauricio Boraschi Deputy Minister of the Presidency in Security Affairs, National Drug Evaluation Department of the Anti- drug Foundation of El Salvador (FUNDASALVA) Canada Gloria Bodnar Director of the Research and Margaret Bloodworth Former National Security Advisor of Adam Blackwell Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Organization of American States Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking, SEDRONAR of Argentina Rafael Bielsa Secretary of State of the Ministry of Planning for the Prevention of Kofi Barnes Judge, Ontario Court of Justice at Canada María de las Mercedes Aranguren President of Fundación Convivir at Argentina The Scenario Team caring professionals who worked together in the hope that these that hope the in together worked who professionals caring world the help would that dialogue a encourage might scenarios drug problem in the Americas. move forward in relation to the ments in at least one of the scenarios. As a consequence, this As a consequence, scenarios. of the one least in at ments recommendations policy on implicit a consensus not represents list and committed, of diverse, – a group themselves people but the Because these scenarios represent four different pathways for pathways different four represent scenarios these Because ele with disagrees member team scenario every almost ward, Groups represented in the project include leaders from civil society, civil from leaders include project in the represented Groups the police, peoples, indigenous academia, business, government, others. people, politicians, activists, and military, young sectors, and as a team, they have a range of backgrounds and backgrounds of range a have they team, a as and sectors, that geographical) professional, ideological, (sectoral, perspectives whole. a as system emerging the grasp to together them enable The Scenario Team is made up of leading actors who are repre who are actors leading is made up of Team The Scenario sentative (but not representatives) of the whole ‘drug system’ of own their of leaders respected are they Individually, Americas. the Contributors of the The Economist

Michael Reid Americas Editor, Jorge Morales Jorge Paz at of Armando Local Coordinator Nicaragua Joaquín Moreno of member and Director Founding de Liderazgo y Gestión the Centro of the Board of Colombia. Member S.A. of of Directors of Ecopetrol, of the Colombia. Former President Dutch Shell for Companies of Royal and Venezuela Colombia, Mexico, Óscar Naranjo the Colombian Former Director of current Director National Police and Citizenship of the Latin American Technology Institute, Monterrey System, Mexico Antonio Navarro Wolff Former Governor of Nariño, former Senator, former Mayor, and former Minister of Health of Colombia Former Minister of Justice and Police, and Principal Representative of Suriname for CICAD Rogério Seabra Former Overall Commander of the Units of Police Pacification (UPP) at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil United Kingdom Peter Reuter Professor in the School of Public Policy and in the Department of Criminology, and Founding President of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy of the United States of America Víctor Rico Director of Institutional Development and Special Affairs at CAF, Latin American Development Bank at Bolivia Fredy Rivera FLACSO Research professor at Ecuador Lisa Sánchez Coordinator of the Latin American Policy, Drug of Reform the for Program México Unido contra la Delincuencia / Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Mexico Chandrikapersad Santokhi

Former Mayor of Bogota, Colombia America Donald MacPherson Executive Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition Emiliano Martín Former General Deputy Director of the Spanish National Drug Plan and former Director of the Drug Plan at Madrid. Responsible for protection to minors at Madrid, Spain Antanas Mockus Martin Jelsma Coordinator of Drugs & Democracy Programme - Transnational Institute (TNI) at The Netherlands Callixtus Joseph Regional Crime and Security Strategy Coordinator, CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) Julius Lang Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Center for Court Innovation of the United States of Professor of Political Science, and Provost and Senior Vice President, York College of The City University of New York, United States of America Edgar Gutiérrez Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Ambassador to Guatemala on special mission to reform drug policy Alejandro Hope Analyst from the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness Luna Genaro García of of Public Security Former Secretary Mexico Juan Ramón Gradiz the National Inspector General of Police of Nicaragua Aminta Granera Sacasa the National Police General Director of of Nicaragua Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith Jaime García Jaime of Associate of the Institute Research Studies at the Pontifical International of Peru Catholic University Organization of American States of American Organization 74 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 75 Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios Consultant, and former Secretary of CONACE of Chile Commissioner, Ministry of the Presidency of Costa Rica Fernando Henrique Cardoso Former President of the Republic of Brazil Carlos Castresana Former Commissioner of the UN International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) María Teresa Chadwick Prevention and Management Director, of Chile Margaret Bloodworth Former National Security Advisor of Canada Gloria Bodnar Director of the Research and Evaluation Department of the Anti- drug Foundation of El Salvador, FUNDASALVA Mauricio Boraschi Deputy Minister of the Presidency in Security Affairs, National Drug Rafael Bielsa Secretary of State of the Ministry of Planning for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking, SEDRONAR of Argentina Adam Blackwell Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Organization of American States Javiera Blanco Director of Fundación Paz Ciudadana Kofi Barnes at Court of Justice Judge, Ontario Canada Richard Baum Policy, Branch Chief for International Supply Reduction, ONDCP – Office of the President, Executive Office of United States of America Vargas Benítez Francisco José de Secretary of the Minister Executive (SENAD) Antidrug National Secretariat of Brazil Francisco Babin Francisco the Institute of Addictions Director of of Madrid at the city President of Fundación Convivir at Argentina of Chile María de las Mercedes Aranguren Child Orchestras System of Venezuela Enrique Accorsi Member of Parliament of the Congress José Antonio Abreau Founder and Director of the Youth and Pedro Abramovay Former Secretary of Legislative Affairs of the Ministry of Justice and Director of AVAAZ in Brazil Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Canada People Interviewed Diane Ablonczy John Walsh Senior Associate, WOLA, United States of America President of Ron Santa Teresa and Founder of Proyecto Alcatraz of Venezuela and Environment of the Gonawindúa Tayrona Organization of Colombia Alberto C. Vollmer Danilo Villafañe Arhuaco leader, Coordinator of Land Alcira Tejada Dean of the Faculty of Nursing of the University de Panamá International Affairs of the National Secretariat for Policies on Drugs of the Ministry of Justice of Brazil Pensamiento e Incidencia (laRED) Pensamiento e Incidencia Vladimir Stempliuk Director for Strategic Projects and Eduardo Stein of the Republic Former Vice-President current Coordinator of Guatemala, and de Centros de of Red Centroamericana International Inc. of the United States International Inc. of of America Zili Sloboda Zili Sloboda and Director of the Research of JBS Development Center Universidad de la República O. del de la República Universidad on Director of the Magazine Uruguay. (Montevideo, Uruguay) Criminal Law Diego Silva Forné Silva Forné Diego Professor at the Criminal Law Carl Meacham Senior Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, US Senate, Foreign Relations Committee Daniel Mejía Professor and Researcher of the Faculty of Economics and of the Study Center on Security and Drugs of the Universidad de los Andes of Colombia Gil Kerlikowske Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the White House, United States of America Ricardo Lagos Former President of the Republic of Chile Aldo Lale Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at Uruguay Julius Lang Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Center for Court Innovation of the United States of America Helen Mack Former Presidential Commissioner for the Police Reform of Guatemala Donald MacPherson Executive Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition Carmen Masías Executive President of DEVIDA of Peru Alberto Hart Alberto of Global Commitment Director of Peru DEVIDA of Rodrigo Hinzpeter of Chile National Defense Minister of Alejandro Hope Institute for Analyst from the Mexican Competitiveness West Huddleston Association of CEO of the National (NACDP) of Drug Court Professionals America the United States of José Miguel Insulza the Organization Secretary General of of American States Martin Jelsma Coordinator of Drugs & Democracy Programme - Transnational Institute (TNI) at The Netherlands

current Ambassador to Guatemala on special mission to reform drug policy Colombia Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith Professor of Political Science, and Provost and Senior Vice President, York College of The City University of New York, United States of America Eduardo Guerrero Partner of Lantia Consultores of Mexico Edgar Gutiérrez Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and County, United States of America Francis Forbes Interim Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, CARICOM at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Enrique García Executive President of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America César Gaviria Former President of the Republic of Janeiro at Brazil Gustavo de Greiff Former General Attorney of the Nation, Republic of Colombia, and Former Ambassador at Mexico Paulina Duarte Secretary of the National Antidrug Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice of Brazil Rogelio Flores Superior Court Judge, Santa Barbara Sandro Costa Santos Sandro Costa of Human Deputy Coordinator Brazil Security, Viva Rio, Lucía Dammert at Chile Professor of FLACSO Marcus Day Reduction Vice Chair of Harm Lucia International at Saint de Almeida Neto Joaquin Domingos State of Rio de Court Judge of the Gino Costa Gino of Interior, former Former Minister and current Deputy Ombudsman, of Peru of Ciudad Nuestra President Organization of American States of American Organization 76 2013 – 2025 2013 – 2025 77 Scenarios for the Drug Problem in the Americas in Problem the Drug for Scenarios the Universidad Torcuato de Di Tella of Argentina Sergio Torres Circuit Judge of the National Crime and Correctional Court of Argentina Gabriela Touze President of the NGO Intercambios of Argentina Arturo Valenzuela Professor of Georgetown University, Washington D.C. of Guatemala, and current Coordinator of Guatemala, and current Coordinator of Red Centroamericana de Centros de Pensamiento e Incidencia (laRED) Ilona Szabó Co-coordinator of the Global Commission on Drug Policy of Brazil Francisco Thoumi Retired Professor, former Research coordinator for UN Global Programme against Money Laundering in Vienna Juan Tokatlián Professor of International Relations at Rogerio Seabra Overall commander of the Units of Police Pacification (UPP) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Zili Sloboda Director of the Research and Development Center of JBS International Inc. of the United States of America Eduardo Stein Former Vice-President of the Republic / Transform Drug Policy Foundation, Drug Policy Foundation, / Transform Mexico Armando Santacruz Unido contra la Counselor of México Delincuencia Chandrikapersad Santokhi Justice and Police, Former Minister of of and Principal Representative Suriname for CICAD Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia President of the Republic Lisa Sánchez of the Latin American Coordinator Policy, Drug of Reform the for Program contra la Delincuencia México Unido of the The Economist

Organization at Argentina Foreign Affairs, Canada Mirta Roses Director of the Pan American Health Policy Foundation, United Kingdom Morris Rosenberg Deputy Minister, Department of Steve Rolles Main Policy Analyst, Transform Drug Víctor Rico Director of Institutional Development and Special Affairs at CAF, Latin American Development Bank in Bolivia Study of Drug Policy of the United States of America Professor in the School of Public Policy and in the Department of Criminology, and Founding President of the International Society for the United Kingdom Peter Reuter Department of Justice, Canada Michael Reid Americas Editor, Minister of Health of Colombia Donald Pigaroff Assistant Deputy Minister for Policy, Antonio Navarro Wolff Former Governor of Nariño, former Senator, former Mayor, and former of the Latin American Citizenship Institute, Monterrey Technology System, Mexico Óscar Naranjo Former Director of the Colombian National Police and current Director Executive Director of the Drug Policy Executive Director States of Alliance of the United America Stanley Motta CEO of Copa Airlines Ethan Nadelman Companies of Royal Dutch Shell for Companies of Royal and Venezuela Colombia, Mexico, the Centro de Liderazgo y Gestión de Liderazgo y Gestión the Centro Board Member of the of Colombia. S.A. of of Directors of Ecopetrol, of the Colombia. Former President Joaquín Moreno of member and Director Founding Antanas Mockus Antanas of Bogota, Colombia Former Mayor Graphic Design Alejandro Ahumada Reos Partners Team Partners Reos Mille Bojer Pinto Elena Díez Adam Kahane Anaí Linares y Gestión Team Centro de Liderazgo Alejandra González Joaquín Moreno Juan Carlos Morris Gustavo Mutis Scenario Editor Betty Sue Flowers Professor Distinguished Teaching Emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin Scenario Editor - Spanish version Juan Carlos Morris

Proyecto Alcatraz of the Fundación Santa Teresa in Venezuela. OAS/CICAD Team Adam Blackwell Álvaro Briones Francisco Cumsille Rafael Franzini Maria Beatriz Galvis Adriana Henao Bryce Pardo Paul Simons John Walsh WOLA, United Senior Associate, States of America Richard Wex for Law Assistant Deputy Minister Department Enforcement and Policy, of Public Safety 2 Panelists at Workshop to hear three We were privileged Fundación representatives from and one from Conexión, El Salvador Alberto Vollmer Alberto and of Ron Santa Teresa President of Proyecto Alcatraz Founder of Venezuela Organization of American States of American Organization 78 2013 – 2025