Drug policy in Latin America

Abstract

Co-operation between countries is very necessary to tackle the complexity of the drug problem both in relation to prevention of the demand and to the supply, in addition to treatment and reinsertion. Spain occupies an important position in this cooperation between the South American countries for cultural and historical reasons. This co-operation, considered a priority by the Government Delegation for the National Drug Plan, has been established at a variety of levels - support for the creation of the South American Network of NGOs working with Drug Addicts (RIOD), which encompasses the principal NGOs in Spain and South America; support for training through an on-line Masters in Drug Addiction which is about to be put into operation by the South American Universities Network with a postgraduate course in drug addictions or postgraduate scholarships in drug addictions, financed by the AECI; strengthening the National Drug Commissions in these countries and the establishment of the respective National Drug Observatories; control of the drug supply through judicial co-operation and the battle against money laundering, etc.