The 2011 Afghan Opium Survey reports an increase in opium production and prices, and sustained high rates of opiate consumption and HIV prevalence amongst injecting drug users in Afghanistan.

Household concerns about food security because of the high wheat prices were key in driving down poppy cultivation between 2008 and 2009. The coercive power of the Afghan State and international military forces also seems to have been a significant factor in determining levels of cultivation in central Helmand in 2010 and 2011. However, the sustainability of these effects will vary among different communities.

This update of t he Afghanistan Cannabis Survey 2009 confirms Afghanistan's role as a major grower of cannabis, but also discovers that the country produces more cannabis resin or hashish than any other nation.

This toolkit was created to educate the public about evidence-based drug policy, increase media interest in drug policy reform and build political support by getting local and national governments to endorse the Vienna Declaration and join the call for evidence-based drug policy.

Last January, IDPC organised its first drug policy seminar in the Middle East and North Africa region, in collaboration with its local partner, the National Rehabilitation Centre, in order to generate constructive discussions and sgare experience on drug policy, and to discuss the possibility to establish a regional network on drug policy.

This briefing paper analyses the reasons behind the proposed amendment and the opposing arguments that have been brought forward, and outlines the various options to be considered as the fate of Bolivia’s proposal is determined. Simply rejecting the amendment will not make the issue disappear.