26 June 2025, Cairo, Egypt – On International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, marked on 26 June, the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting the drug trade’s devastating effects on the health and well-being of populations. Drug use impacts security, safety, and development, costing some countries up to 2% of their GDP due to health-related expenses, crime, and lost productivity. Beyond its economic burden, drug use constitutes a significant public health issue, linked to a range of health issues, including mental health conditions, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite these public health implications, drug use has been overwhelmingly addressed through a law enforcement and supply restriction lens, using strategies that reinforce stigma and overlook the health dimensions of the issue. Globally, an estimated