By Temitope Salami I arrived in Swansea University from Nigeria in October 2020, a week after my Masters programme in Applied Criminal Justice and Criminology had commenced. This was a difficult time considering the pandemic had morphed into phase two and there was talk in the media about a possible second nationwide lockdown amid a…Continue Reading My Harm Reduction Journey from the University to an NGO
Proposing a Harm Reduction Framework for Youth Drug Use in Nigeria: A Research Inspired Commentary
Temitope Salami Drugs is a hotly debated subject that attracts the attention of policymakers, especially regarding the perceived effects drug use has on society. But, following scientific research and targeted campaigns, it is apparent that the ‘war on drugs’ rhetoric has lost its gloss and public health alternatives are increasingly embraced over criminal justice measures….Continue Reading Proposing a Harm Reduction Framework for Youth Drug Use in Nigeria: A Research Inspired Commentary
View from the Ground – Harm reduction, drug policy and the law in the Maghreb: focus on Tunisia and Mauritania
View from the Ground – Harm reduction, drug policy and the law in the Maghreb: focus on Tunisia and Mauritania Khalid Tinasti Honorary Research Associate, Swansea University July 2017 Introduction: The Maghreb countries – Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia – while seldom discussed, are crucial to global debates on drug control policies. These countries…Continue Reading View from the Ground – Harm reduction, drug policy and the law in the Maghreb: focus on Tunisia and Mauritania
View from the Ground – Harm reduction, drug policy and the law in the Maghreb: focus on Morocco and Algeria
View from the Ground – Harm reduction, drug policy and the law in the Maghreb: focus on Morocco and Algeria Khalid Tinasti, Geneva Global Drug Policy Observatory, Swansea University October 2016 As WordPress doesn’t allow referencing, full PDF with references available here: khalid_blog-maghreb-drug-policy_final Introduction: The Maghreb countries, part of the Arab Maghreb Union, are Algeria, Libya,…Continue Reading View from the Ground – Harm reduction, drug policy and the law in the Maghreb: focus on Morocco and Algeria
New IDS Report on West Africa
A few years back there was a jump in the amount of South American drugs, particularly cocaine, being found by authorities in West Africa. Starting in Brazil and Venezuela, the shipments move across the Atlantic to the West Coast of Africa, and from there through the Sahara and on to Southern Europe. A new route…Continue Reading New IDS Report on West Africa
Country Snapshot: Drugs in Zimbabwe
Africa is witnessing an upsurge in illicit drug trafficking as well as an increase in illicit drug use and the problems associated therewith. Whilst data in the region is sketchy, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report of 2013 estimates that there are 28 million drug users in Africa. They…Continue Reading Country Snapshot: Drugs in Zimbabwe
The UN drug control authorities reinforce the ‘received wisdom’ on drugs in Sub Saharan Africa
The proliferation of drug trafficking in West Africa, as measured by drug – and most specifically cocaine – seizure data, has drawn considerable attention from the United Nations drug control bodies, and from West European and North American countries that are engaged in anti-poverty, state stabilisation and counter terrorism activities in the sub-region. Underscoring concerns…Continue Reading The UN drug control authorities reinforce the ‘received wisdom’ on drugs in Sub Saharan Africa
GDPO launches new website and publications
The Global Drug Policy Observatory (GDPO) at Swansea University, UK, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. Engaging in a range of ‘impact’ oriented activities, the recently established Observatory operates with the goal of promoting evidence and human rights based drug policy through the comprehensive and rigorous reporting, monitoring and analysis of…Continue Reading GDPO launches new website and publications
Guinea Bissau: Poor data and the rise of the ‘narco-state’ narrative
In recent years, the media has applied the contentious term ‘narco-state’ to a number of West African countries, including Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, on account of the increased volumes of cocaine being trafficked through the region and the impact of this illicit activity on governance and security. The heightened prominence of West Africa in…Continue Reading Guinea Bissau: Poor data and the rise of the ‘narco-state’ narrative