Conceptualising the right to health in the context of the world drug problem

Background: The “right to health” is a fundamental human right. Everyone, including children, adults, women, men, parents, and communities, has the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health that includes complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The right to health is recognised in numerous international instruments and the health and welfare of humankind is also the founding goal of the international drug control frameworks. Yet what does achieving the “right to health” look like in relation to drugs: including people who use drugs, families and friends, and for communities? This paper explores both how to conceptualise the right to health in the context of the world drug problem and how it might be measured.  

Methods: This paper builds from work undertaken for the UNODC, and included review of all major international instruments, policy documents as well as scientific literature on the right to health and developing a conceptual framework and applying measurement principles from other areas. 

Results: We identified seven key aspects of the right to health. These were: 1. Addressing the underlying determinants of health and wellbeing; 2. ensuring available, accessible, acceptable and quality prevention services; 3. ensuring access to essential medicines; 4. providing available, accessible, acceptable and quality drug treatment (and HM) services; 5. expressing equality and non-discrimination; 6. delivering meaningful participation; and 7. realising the universal rights that support the right to health. Each of these has multiple potential measurable indicators, and the choice of indicators needs to be driven by considerations of availability and feasibility of data, simplicity and transparency, and timeliness. Beyond its potential measurement, however, there are some broader considerations about how to support a comprehensive right to health approach for all people, and will require dialogue and translation of what appear to be lofty principles into practical actions.   

Conclusions: Given that the right to health is a fundamental human right, how drug policy advocacy groups, researchers, decision-makers, people who use drugs, and communities affected by drug use and harms can embrace the principles and translate them into meaningful actions is key to progress.