WHEN THE ADULT IN THE ROOM IS GONE: Trump’s Budget Cuts and Global Drug Policy | CND2025

The Trump administration's slashing of foreign aid is already having a devastating impact on harm reduction and HIV services around the world. But the harmful effects extend far beyond that. Drugreporter interviewed key experts at the annual UN drugs meeting, the CND in Vienna, to provide a clear picture of the real impacts.

The chapters:
00:00 Setting the scene: The 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 2025
00:43 Main title.
00:51 JOHN WALSH (WOLA, USA) The USA is actively seeking to do a lot of harm, and it's completely unnecesary.
01:13 ANN FORDHAM (IDPC) The impacts of Trumps foreign aid cuts are devastating.
02:06 ZAVED MAHMOOT (UN OHCHR) Cutting funding is cutting off the future of people.
02:22 ANTON BASENKO (INPUD) INPUD's research shows that outreach and peer programs are the most affected.
03:33 JULIE MACDONNELL USAID, CDC and PEPFAR funding cuts endanger rural services in South Africa.
04:35 GANNA DOVBAKH (EHRA) The narrative is changing, populists feel stronger
05:51 The case of Hungary: Viktor Orbán bans the Pride march and starts a new drug war.
06:39 ANN FORDHAM (IDPC) The over depoendency on the USA was not sustainable. Budget cuts happen in other countries as well.
07:53 MARIA-GORETTI ANE LOGLO (IDPC) Africa is most affected, African governments need to address funding of the health sector.
08:48 GANNA DOVBAKH (EHRA) Stopping wasting money on the war on drugs is essential for European countries.
09:47 ANTON BASENKO (INPUD) People who use drugs are used to this and are resilient.
10:26 JOHN WALSH (WOLA, USA) The new war against drug cartels is lacking a reasonable strategy.
11:39 DAVID CHOQUEHUANCA CÉSPEDES (Vice president of Bolívia) The coca leaf is a gift to the Andean-Amazonian peoples.
12:15 HERNAN VALES (UNHRO) The coca leaf needs to be completely removed from the UN drug conventions.
12:35 ANN FORDHAM (IDPC) The WHO's review process of the coca leaf is still ongoing.
13:35 DAVID CHOQUEHUANCA CÉSPEDES (Vice president of Bolívia) Long live the coca leaf!


Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/ Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/ X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/ Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/ A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/ The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/