illegal drugs

Human rights advocates offers prayers and lights candles

Protests erupt over deadly anti-drug policy of the Philippines' new president

Newly-elected President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police and military to kill suspected drug dealers and users without due process.

Protests erupt over deadly anti-drug policy of the Philippines' new president
​Federal police officers stand guard near a prison in Ciudad Juarez, where Mexican drug boss Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman was moved from his jail, in central Mexico, May 7, 2016.

Which will come first, El Chapo's next escape, or his extradition to the US?

Which will come first, El Chapo's next escape, or his extradition to the US?
Grower Denis Contry checks out his marijuana plants at the Ganja Farms store in Bogota, Colombia, which recently legalized medical marijuana.

Mexico's president wants to legalize medical marijuana (sort of)

Mexico's president wants to legalize medical marijuana (sort of)
Holiday makers returning from Tunisia walk through the arrivals section at Manchester Airport in Manchester, northern England, January 14, 2011.

Sniffer dogs at Manchester airport are great at finding sausages. Heroin, not so much

Sniffer dogs at Manchester airport are great at finding sausages. Heroin, not so much
Amanda Feilding of the Beckley Foundation.

The woman behind a new LSD study has a history of experimenting on herself

The woman behind a new LSD study has a history of experimenting on herself
Tu Nan, a former heroin user, raises his hands during morning prayers at the Youth for Christ Centre near Naung Chein in Myanmar's Kachin state, July 9, 2013.

Myanmar is in the middle of its largest civilian uprising in nearly a decade

And this one isn't about democracy, per se — it's about drugs.

Myanmar is in the middle of its largest civilian uprising in nearly a decade
Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan's legacy includes the controversial 'Just Say No' program

Nancy Reagan blazed a new trail for first ladies, with policy positions that she pushed. Among her priorities were the 'Just Say No' program, which remains controversial to this day.

Nancy Reagan's legacy includes the controversial 'Just Say No' program
Donald Trump speaks after winning New Hampshire's GOP primary

Even as the candidates leave New Hampshire, the heroin epidemic burns on

The New Hampshire primaries are over. All of the politicians and national media will pull up stakes and move on. But they're leaving behind a heroin epidemic that continues — and that is finally getting some attention.

Even as the candidates leave New Hampshire, the heroin epidemic burns on
Recaptured drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is escorted by soldiers at the hangar belonging to the office of the Attorney General in Mexico City

Why Mexico realizes it must extradite Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman

Mexico has agreed to extradite notorious drug kingpin Joaquin Guzman, also known as El Chapo, to the US. Guzman was captured, for a third time, on Friday. Mexican officials have said contacts between actor Sean Penn and the notorious drug lord helped in the recapture. But Penn's interview and article in Rolling Stone have infuriated Mexican journalists.

Why Mexico realizes it must extradite Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman
Residents react during the funeral of newly-installed Temixco mayor Gisela Mota in Temixco, south of Mexico City, after Mota was shot dead on Saturday by four armed gunmen, January 3, 2016.

A Mexican mayor was murdered hours into her new job — the latest in a long line of similar crimes

Gisela Mota was murdered only hours after she was sworn into office as the new mayor of Temixco city in southern Mexico. She's one of about 70 mayors who have been killed in the past decade in Mexico.

A Mexican mayor was murdered hours into her new job — the latest in a long line of similar crimes
MDMA

Photographer takes a look at the (legal and otherwise) drugs we pop

Have you ever wondered what your prescription — and illegal — drugs look like? Really look like — up close and personal?

Photographer takes a look at the (legal and otherwise) drugs we pop
Jones family

From the depths of opiate addiction, a mother earns back her family

As the opiate crisis advances, many people who thought their child-rearing years were done are finding themselves stepping in to take care of young relatives.

From the depths of opiate addiction, a mother earns back her family
A man smokes during a rally to inform citizenship about marijuana use outside the Senate building in Mexico City, Mexico, July 7, 2015.

Mexico's Supreme Court takes a step toward making pot freely available

A recent court ruling could put Mexico on a path to full legalization of marijuana. But don't light up a joint just yet.

Mexico's Supreme Court takes a step toward making pot freely available
sicario

Sicario's dirty war on Mexican cartels is not yet reality

Denis Villeneuve’s movie, 'Sicario,' gets much right about the borderlands, but crosses the line into exaggeration. A veteran border correspondent compares the film’s underworld to the one he knows.

Sicario's dirty war on Mexican cartels is not yet reality
A man walks along the coast of Old Providence.

On this Caribbean island, the men are disappearing

At first glance Old Providence is paradise, a small Caribbean island with palm trees swaying in the breeze, white sands and emerald waters, untouched by mass tourism. But the island has a guilty secret — the huge number of people who have turned to drug-running and then disappeared.

On this Caribbean island, the men are disappearing