Repressive drug policies feeding HIV

The report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy - that came as as Canada's Conservative government comes under fire for passing tough-on-drugs legislation - said that The war on drugs has failed, and millions of new HIV infections and AIDS deaths can be averted if action is taken now.

The war on drugs has led to increased availability, lower prices and higher potency of drugs, as well as a heightened role of organized crime, the report warns.

The report urges a halt to the practice of arresting and imprisoning people who use drugs but don't harm others. It also calls for more substitution and heroin-assisted treatment programs and an end to "wasteful" spending on law enforcement measures that divert money from prevention and treatment programs.

War-on-drug policies lead to high-risk behaviour by driving people underground, away from testing and prevention services such as sterile syringes and creates fear of police and stigma, the report suggests. It also spreads violence and leads to mass incarceration.