“War on Drugs” is a work that is born a classic.
Olavo Hamilton, attorney, Federal Counselor of the Brazilian Bar Association (2019-2025), and professor, outlines in these pages the reasons why the war on drugs is inadequate for protecting public health.
Hamilton revisits the origins of this policy—initially developed in the United States and replicated in various countries—and successfully presents an overview of the consequences of current anti-drug geopolitics, such as the consumption of vast financial resources, the loss of hundreds of thousands of human lives, and penal intervention leading to mass incarceration. He further emphasizes the ineffectiveness of this strategy in reducing the illicit market or mitigating consumption.
Drawing on an extensive literature review grounded in empirical research, the author concludes that the criminalization of the consumption of certain psychoactive substances often leads users to commit crimes, including drug trafficking, as a way to finance their dependency. In his analysis, there is a direct and proportional relationship between the resources invested in the war on drugs and the global incidence of violent deaths.
At the same time, he highlights public policies that approach the issue from a perspective other than criminalization. With a humanized focus and a harm reduction framework, these policies have yielded positive public health outcomes—far superior to those resulting from the war strategy.
Olavo Hamilton stands out for his academic and professional trajectory dedicated to the strengthening of democratic institutions and offers the legal community an original and highly relevant contribution. The author’s extensive résumé attests to the competence with which he addresses complex topics. His dedication is, in itself, a true exercise of citizenship.
I am certain that the fields of Criminal Law and Criminology gain here a new required reading. It is a great honor for me to write the foreword to this work.
Enjoy the reading,
Brasília, April 20, 2025.

José Alberto Simonetti
Lawer. President of the National Bar Association of Brazil.