The unintended negative consequences of the ‘war on drugs’

Criminalisation of drug users, excessive levels of imprisonment, and punitive sentencing practices, including mandatory sentencing, the death penalty and enforced ‘drug detention centres’, are some of the unintended negative consequences of the 50 year ‘war on drugs’, a policy with direct impact on the vulnerable, poor and socially excluded groups, including ethnic minorities and women.

This PRI briefing paper discusses these consequences in detail and sets out what parliamentarians can do about it.