Home > Decriminalization of drug use in the context of HIV: a guidance note.

UNAIDS. (2026) Decriminalization of drug use in the context of HIV: a guidance note. Geneva: UNAIDS.

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The decriminalization of drug use and possession for personal use, when implemented effectively, is a critical element in a human rights and public health-based HIV response. The group of countries that have adopted decriminalization models spans all continents. This document brings together different approaches to and experiences of decriminalization of drug use and possession for personal use and provides recommendations for countries to ensure an enabling environment for the HIV response.

Item Type
Report
Publication Type
International, Report
Drug Type
Substances (not alcohol/tobacco)
Intervention Type
Prevention, Harm reduction
Date
March 2026
Pages
92 p.
Publisher
UNAIDS
Corporate Creators
UNAIDS
Place of Publication
Geneva
EndNote
Subjects
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder (addiction) > Drug use disorder > Drug intoxication > Poisoning (overdose)
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > HIV
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > Hepatitis C (HCV)
G Health and disease > Disease by cause (Aetiology) > Communicable / infectious disease > Sexually transmitted infection / disease
HJ Treatment or recovery method > Substance disorder treatment method > Substance replacement method (substitution) > Opioid agonist treatment (methadone maintenance / buprenorphine)
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Harm reduction > Substance use harm reduction
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Health related issues > Health information and education > Communicable / infectious disease control > Needle syringe distribution and exchange
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Safe spaces (injecting facilities / centre / consumption rooms)
MM-MO Crime and law > Crime > Substance related crime
MM-MO Crime and law > Substance use laws > Drug laws
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use > Drug decriminalisation, depenalisation or legalisation policy
T Demographic characteristics > Adolescent / youth (teenager / young person)
T Demographic characteristics > Homosexual, gay, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, LGBTQ+
VA Geographic area > International

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