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Drug Diversion Schemes Linked to Lower Reoffending Rates, New Research Finds
New research examining more than 62,000 criminal incidents across 13 police forces in England found that police-led drug diversion schemes are associated with significantly lower reoffending rates than traditional prosecution for drug...
Do Drug Diversion Schemes Work? Insights from the Thames Valley Police Drugs Diversion Pilot
This paper examines the development and early outcomes of the Thames Valley Police Drugs Diversion Pilot in West Berkshire, which offers people found in possession of drugs an opportunity to engage with treatment rather than receive a...
The introduction of drug Arrest Referral schemes in London: A partnership between drug services and the police
Arrest Referral (AR) schemes in London were established to connect people who use drugs with treatment services at the point of arrest through collaboration between police and drug service providers. Based on interviews with police officers...
Heroin Trafficking Along the Northern and Southern Routes: Emerging Trends and Strategic Implications
This paper examines how heroin trafficking routes from Afghanistan into Europe have evolved following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. It explores the changing dynamics of the northern and southern trafficking routes, highlighting how...
The Role of Faith Communities in Addressing Substance Use and Crime – Reading List (Part 2)
In this second reading list, we continue exploring the growing evidence on the role and contribution of faith communities and faith-based organisations in addressing substance use and crime, with a particular focus on treatment engagement...
Association Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Cocaine Use: A Systematic Review
This systematic review examines the association between religiosity, spirituality, and cocaine use by analysing findings from 20 observational studies involving adults and adolescents. Most studies found that higher levels of religiosity...
Religion, Crime, and Criminal Justice
This chapter reviews the evidence on the relationship between religion, crime, and the criminal justice system. It highlights a growing body of research showing a consistent inverse association between religiosity and criminal behaviour...
Measuring gang membership in England and Wales: A latent class analysis with Eurogang survey questions
This study examines how gang membership is measured among young people using the Eurogang Network’s survey approach. Drawing on nationally representative data from England and Wales, the researchers used statistical analysis to identify...
Protecting Youth from Mexican Drug Cartel Recruitment: The Prospects of Educational Interventions
This investigation considers the impact of Mexico’s War on Drugs since 2006 and the influence of widespread cartel networks on the youth population. As both victims and perpetrators of drug-related crime, the young individuals of Mexico are...
Recruitment of minors into organised crime
The recruitment of minors into serious and organised crime has increasingly become a tactic used by criminal networks to avoid detection, capture and prosecution. By using minors, the criminal networks increase the distance between the...
Addressing the recruitment of young people into criminal drugs networks
This report examines how and why young people are recruited into criminal drug networks across Europe. It highlights the range of factors that can increase vulnerability to recruitment, including social and economic disadvantage, peer...
Faith-Based Interventions for Reducing Gang Violence in the Caribbean: Reflections from a Professor and a Priest
This book chapter explores the role of faith-based interventions in preventing and reducing gang violence in Trinidad and Tobago. Drawing on the experiences of a criminologist and a religious leader, it argues that gang violence should be...
Religiosity and crime: Evidence from a city-wide shock
This study examines the relationship between religiosity and crime using data from the 2015 visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. By analysing daily crime reports before, during, and after the visit, the researchers found a significant...
Law Enforcement and Prevention of Problem Behaviors: An Important Connection to Improve the Health and Safety of Our Communities
Why is the connection between law enforcement and prevention of problem behaviors such as substance use important? Perhaps it is Safety within our communities.
While law enforcement is responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining public...
Drug production and precursors — EUDA ongoing activities
The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) continues to monitor illicit drug production and precursor chemicals across Europe to improve understanding of how drug markets are evolving. Production within the European Union is primarily focused...
The Role of Law Enforcement in the Reduction of Substance Use and Other Behavioral Health Risks: Substance Use as a Focus: United States as an Example
This paper explores how law enforcement can contribute to the prevention of substance use and other behavioural health risks beyond their traditional enforcement role. Using the United States as an example, it argues that police and other...
2025 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) - Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has released its 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA), providing an overview of the threats posed by illicit drugs and the transnational criminal organizations involved in their production and trafficking. The report highlights the continuing impact of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine, on public health, public safety, and national security.
UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs
The UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs is a practical online resource coordinated by UNODC that brings together tools, guidance, and operational resources from across the UN system to support responses to the global synthetic drug problem...
NEW Security Document Examination module in the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs
UNODC has launched a new Security Document Examination module within the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs, developed in collaboration with the UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Services. The module aims to help law enforcement, border control...
EU controls nine drug precursors following first EUDA assessments
The European Commission has introduced new controls on nine high-risk chemical precursors used in illicit drug production under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314. Most of these substances are linked to synthetic cathinones, while one is...
