The International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) released its first report, Effect of drug law enforcement on drug-related violence: evidence from a scientific review in April 2010. The report revealed that rather than reducing drug related violence, drug law enforcement likely leads to more violence, gun offenses and homicide.

Urban Health Research Initiative
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS March 2010

Based on the available English language scientific evidence, the results of this systematic review suggest that an increase in drug law enforcement interventions to disrupt drug markets is unlikely to reduce violence attributable to drug gangs.

Arms trafficking from the United States to Mexico is a central issue in bilateral relations, closely linked to drug trafficking and, in particular, the lethal violence unleashed by Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Violence is always a possibility in any illegal activity, but the magnitude of the current violence is largely related to the availability of high-powered firearms being trafficked across the border from the United States to Mexico.

This is the first edition of the IDPC Drug Policy Guide aimed at national government policy makers. This publication is a collaborative effort by a number of IDPC members and partners, and brings together global evidence and best practices on the design and implementation of drug policies and programmes at national level.

This new report undertaken by The Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme is concerned with one of the most worrying aspects of the global trade in illicit drugs - the link to urban violence. This is a leading cause of death in many countries. It is also linked to other harms, such as morbidity, reductions in economic growth and the opportunity costs of investments in incarceration, police forces and private security which attempt to control violence.

In this joint WOLA-BFDPP policy brief, the authors provide an overview of current and past drug policies implemented by the Mexican government, with a focus on its law enforcement efforts. It analyzes the trends in the increased reliance on the Mexican armed forces in counter-drug activities and the role that the United States government has played in shaping Mexico's counter-drug efforts.

WOLA Briefing, July 2007. Mexico's accelerating drug violence has highlighted the limits of police effectiveness and the problems of police corruption. At least 1,400 people have died in attacks since January 2007, figures that far exceed those for the same period in 2006 and 2005. The Calderón government has been quick to call out troops but slow to start the necessary process of professionalizing police forces. Long-term remedies to drug-related violence require strong, accountable police forces - with the support and trust of the civilian population.

Re-establishing fumigation is not going to legitimise or win acceptance of the State's activities in the territory of the Park. It is not going to protect the Park from the environmental deterioration generated by the critical interventions of social and military actors in the war. It is also not going to really affect the FARC's "bankroll". What it will do is create well-fertilised territory for the prolonging of the armed conflict.

'State of Siege provides an overview of drug trafficking and drug-related violence and corruption in Mexico and argues that the United States must share responsibility with Mexico for addressing these problems for two reasons.State of Siege provides an overview of drug trafficking and drug-related violence and corruption in Mexico and argues that the United States must share responsibility with Mexico for addressing these problems for two reasons. First, illegal drugs are trafficked through Mexico to meet a strong and in some cases growing U.S. demand.