In addition to the subterranean nature of the phenomenon, the realities of "illicit drugs" are necessarily plural, for they are linked to contexts, variables, and risk factors that go beyond substance availability and illicit market dynamics.
This includes socio-economic conditions, stigmatization or/and marginalization of involved and affected people, state presence, access to essential services, instability and vulnerabilities etc.
The problems associated with illicit drugs cannot be solved until these linkages are made, and their role better understood.
To make progress, researchers, experts and policy-makers alike must rethink the conventional interpretative grids, and adopt a more nuanced, holistic and empirically informed approach.
Contributing to the growing scientific evidence base on the linkages between drugs, development and human rights, through the development of research projects and scientific activities using social sciences methodologies.
Exploring what a development-oriented approach to drugs could mean through increased visibility of scientific and policy debates on the matter, and dialogue stimulation across interested communities of practices
Proposing policy assessments and program evaluations to interested public or private actors (including technical expertise, programme evaluations, and focused studies) to document impacts, lessons, trials, and best practices