This book re-examines drug control through the lens of health and human rights. It offers the first comprehensive and systematic analysis of the international drug control regime from its inception to the present day. It traces the development of this system through a detailed examination of all major treaties, conventions, and institutional mechanisms. Written accessibly and drawing on archival research and documentary analysis, this book explores how colonial legacies have shaped international drug control, from the 1909 Shanghai Opium Commission to the present-day policies under the UN, which are discussed in relation to good health and access. It provides an in-depth investigation of the key negotiations, alliances, and geopolitical interests that have influenced drug governance, highlighting how securitisation and prohibition have often taken precedence over public health and equitable access to essential medicines. This work will be of interest to scholars and policymakers in history, international law, international relations, global governance, drug policy, and post-colonial studies. By offering an unprecedented level of detail and synthesis, it fills a critical gap in the literature and provides a much-needed reference for understanding the long-term impacts of international drug control.

Chiara Rambaldi is a researcher at the University of Sheffield, UK, specialising in international drug policy, securitisation, and post-colonial studies. She has conducted extensive archival research on the history of drug treaties and international regulation. Her work critically examines the intersection of global governance, public health, and political securitisation. She has published research in academic journals and policy reports and has contributed to international discussions on drug control reform.