San Patrignano has been working in the field of drug rehabilitation for almost 40 years, promoting the concept of recovery and social integration, and advocating for international drug policies that take into consideration the voices of drug users. The idea of self-sustainability as well as the life and job skills learning model could be useful for both, recovering addicts, and illegal farmers wanting to quit crops growing. Especially in Latin America, it could make sense to take the community approach to the next level, creating integrated responses for the entire communities, empowering individuals and their families in the transition. The community-based approach could respond to broader social needs, not just to drug addiction. Read paper
Elisa Rubini is Deputy Head of International Relations at San Patrignano Foundation. She has been working for the San Patrignano Foundation since 2009 and currently holds the position of the New York Liaison. She is the Representative of the Foundation to the United Nations in New York actively engaged in the UNGASS 2016 process as Vice Chair of the Civil Society Task Force for UNGASS established in 2014. Ms. Rubini previously served as International Consultant to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna (UNODC), and as Drug Expert for the European Commission in the Civil Society Forum of the EU. She also served as Board Member for the Vienna NGO Committee on Narcotic Drugs, the European Action on Drugs, and is among the founding members of the following international networks: Recovered Users Network and Drug Policy Futures.
This paper was prepared for the EU-LAC Foundation Newsletter on "The Drug World Problem" of March 2016.