UN Sec'y-General Ban Ki-moon: "We must consider alternatives to criminalization" of people who use drugs

The UN's World Drug Day 2015 is Friday, June 26th.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement to commemorate the day. He underscored the need for a balanced approach in drug control policies, stating that:

"Our shared response to this challenge is founded on the international drug control conventions. In full compliance with human rights standards and norms, the United Nations advocates a careful re-balancing of the international policy on controlled drugs. We must consider alternatives to criminalization and incarceration of people who use drugs and focus criminal justice efforts on those involved in supply. We should increase the focus on public health, prevention, treatment and care, as well as on economic, social and cultural strategies."

June 26th is also the Global Day of Action for Drug Policy Reform. For more information or to get involved, go to SupportDontPunish.org.