Navigating the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs: A Youth RISE Perspective

By Ruby Lawlor, Executive Director of Youth RISE

The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) December Thematic Intersessional meetings, held from the 3rd to 6th of December, provided a crucial platform for global discussions on the implementation of international drug policy commitments, on the run up to the 2024 Mid-Term Review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration next March. As the Executive Director of Youth RISE, an international network advocating for harm reduction and drug policy reform, I had the privilege of attending alongside Rebeca Marques Rocha, International Communications and Advocacy Officer. This experience shed light on the challenges faced by young people who use drugs and the urgent need for comprehensive, evidence-based policies, and how young people continue to be the focus of government policies but with a focus that does not in reality protect us from harms and human rights violations.

Youth RISE’s presence at the CND December Thematic Intersessional Meetings aimed to amplify the key outcomes and recommendations from the recent 2 day Youth Consultative Meeting on Tailoring Harm Reduction Services to Young People Who Use Drugs coordinated by UNODC, UNICEF, WHO, INPUD and Youth RISE. This 2 day consultative meeting brought together stakeholders from the academic community and community of harm reduction and treatment service providers and young people who use drugs to cover topics on service coverage, gaps, and human rights barriers, meaningful engagement of young people who use drugs in services and policies, and bringing harm reduction to drug education.

We attended the CND Thematic Intersessional Meetings to share the key outcomes and recommendations from the above mentioned Youth Consultations, ensuring that these are heard and noted by member states in attendance, as a key moment for our advocacy in terms of UN engagement in young people who use drugs issues. Nearly every statement made by UN bodies and member states during this session and under all of the sessions over the 3 days of the Thematic Intersessional Meetings, included concerns around young people being vulnerable to drug use and the need to prevent them. With very few member states mentioning harm reduction for young people who use drugs, and evidence based comprehensive drug education. They instead took the approach of doubling down on prevention efforts that have proven inadequate at truly ensuring the health and human rights of young people who use drugs are upheld.

Day 1: Focusing on Drug-Related Deaths and Unmet Needs

The first session on the morning of the 4th honed in on the alarming increases in drug-related deaths and the unmet need for drug treatment and health services. Despite concerns around young people’s vulnerability to drug use, there was a continued noticeable lack of emphasis on harm reduction and evidence-based drug education for young people from the UN and member-state interventions.

During the lunch break, a side event titled “World AIDS Day 2023 – Let Communities Lead” emphasized the need for community-led initiatives, aligning with Youth RISE’s advocacy for holistic harm reduction approaches. This side event was organised by UNODC HIV/AIDS Section together with the International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD),  the Group of Friends on the Prevention of HIV for People in Prison Settings and People Who Use Drugs, and UNAIDS.

Day 1 Afternoon: Addressing HIV and Blood-Borne Diseases

The afternoon session delved into the high transmission rates of HIV, HCV, and other blood-borne diseases associated with drug use. While UNODC and member states acknowledged youth concerns, it was Judy Chang, Executive Director of INPUD, who highlighted the lack of harm reduction and health services for people who use drugs. She echoed the Youth Consultation meetings, emphasizing the need to break the cycle of criminalization hindering essential services.

The day concluded with the Global Commission on Drug Policy‘s report launch on HIV, Hepatitis, and Drug Policy Reform, reinforcing the interconnectedness of health and drug policy.

Day 2: Tackling New Psychoactive Substances and Synthetic Opioids and Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs

The morning session on adverse health consequences associated with new psychoactive substances echoed concerns about young people. The discussions predominantly focused on preventative and stigmatizing approaches rather than comprehensive harm reduction. Fariba Soltani and Monica Ciupagea from the UNODC HIV/AIDS Unit referenced the Youth Consultation, aligning with Youth RISE’s efforts to bring attention to this critical issue.

“Among other issues we heard that a recent Global systematic review and meta-analysis of the incidence of HIV and Hepatitis C found that young people who inject stimulant drugs have 50% average risk of acquiring HIV and hepatis C than the older population. Also in the same meeting we heard from a study from Harvard Medical School that showed that fentanyl was responsible for 9 in 10 of overdose deaths in teenagers and in this group that had studied, only one in 3 had known prior opioid use. One of the core ideas that emerged from this consultation was that it is crucial to meaningfully involve young people who use drugs in HIV and hepatitis service design and deliver to ensure that services address their needs.“

Monica Ciupagea, UNODC HIV/AIDS Section

The lunch break featured the launch event for the IDPC report: ‘Are we on track? Shadow Report for the Midterm Review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on Drugs.’ Ruby, on the panel, highlighted the specific challenges faced by young people as a result of punitive drug policies (lack of access to health and harm reduction services, inaffective drug education, and the health and human rights challenges faced by young people who use drugs), and the importance of meaningful engagement in policy and programs to mitigate these challenges. She shared about the key outcomes of the Youth Consultation, and highlighted the issues with the UNODC Youth Forum and its lack of transparency and being hailed as the ‘youth voice on drugs’ yet not allowing for the participants in the Forum to learn about approaches other than prevention, and blocking civil society from presenting at the Forum.

Day 3: Advocating for Accessibility of Controlled Substances

The final day began with a session on the availability of internationally controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. Representing Youth RISE, I delivered a statement on behalf of Isaac Olushola Ogunkola, focusing on the urgent need for accessible Opioid Agonist Treatment and comprehensive harm reduction services in West Africa. The statement emphasized the challenges faced in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Ghana, calling for policy actions to decriminalize drug use and increase funding.

The call to action underscored the importance of youth-friendly harm reduction services, highlighting the outcomes and recommendations from the recent Youth Consultation. The emphasis was on removing age barriers, meaningful engagement of young people, and a policy overhaul to secure the health and human rights of young people who use drugs in West Africa.

In conclusion, the CND Thematic Intersessionals highlighted both progress and gaps in addressing the complex issues surrounding drug policy, and how far we are behind in ensuring the health and human rights of all people who use drugs. Youth RISE remains committed to amplifying the voices of young people, advocating for evidence-based policies, and pushing for comprehensive and accessible harm reduction services on the global stage. The time for meaningful engagement and reform is now.