Global Panel: Treat Young Drug Users as Patients, Not Criminals

For decades, governments worldwide have defended harsh drug laws by saying they protect children. Now, a respected global panel says those same laws are actually harming young people who need help the most.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy released new guidance this week urging countries to stop arresting kids for drug offenses. Instead, they want governments to offer health services, education, and community support.

"Protecting children must be one of the fundamental responsibilities of government, but policies need to be judged by their results, not by the rhetoric used to justify them," said Juan Manuel Santos, former Colombian president and commission member. He pointed to mounting evidence that punitive approaches create more problems than they solve.

The commission gathered input from 150 people across 47 countries, including South Africa. Their research found that young people under 24 face serious consequences from drug enforcement whether they use drugs or not, yet their voices remain absent from policy discussions.

Charity Monareng, who leads Students for Sensible Drug Policy International in South Africa, sees these problems firsthand. Youth-friendly drug treatment services barely exist in her country, she says, because governments still view substance use as a crime rather than a health issue.

"People are afraid of getting arrested," Monareng explained. "They don't only have to worry about the stigma of being identified as a person who uses drugs as a young person, but there's also the fear of being in contact with police."

The commission identified urgent reforms needed worldwide. They want governments to stop prosecuting young people for drug offenses and invest in restorative justice instead. They're pushing for better access to pain medications that remain unavailable to children in many countries. And they want young people exploited by drug traffickers treated as victims, not criminals.

Why This Inspires

This represents a fundamental shift in how world leaders think about protecting children. Rather than punishing young people struggling with drugs, this approach recognizes they need help, not handcuffs.

Monareng highlighted how South Africa already trusts young people with reproductive health decisions, allowing children over 12 to access contraceptives without parental consent. That same principle, she argues, should apply to drug-related health services.

The commission's message is clear: when policies fail the people they claim to protect, it's time to choose compassion over punishment.