Legal context
The Americas include some of the world’s most advanced cannabis reforms alongside countries that still rely heavily on criminalisation and incarceration.
Health response (HRI 2024)
Harm Reduction International (2024) did not identify any operational needle & syringe programme, opioid agonist therapy, drug consumption room or naloxone service in Uruguay. National policy documents do include a supportive reference to harm reduction.
Youth leadership
Youth movements often connect drug policy to racial justice, indigenous rights, public health, safer nightlife and overdose prevention.
First country to fully regulate cannabis (2013).
Drug policy briefing
What young people should know about drug policy in Uruguay
Decriminalisation
Personal use not punishablePersonal possession has long fallen outside criminal punishment under judicial interpretation; cannabis is separately regulated for adult use.
Evidence · Law 19.172 (2013); IRCCA regulations.
Harm Reduction
Public-health integratedOpioid substitution and low-threshold services exist within the public health system, with civil society expanding drug-checking.
Evidence · Junta Nacional de Drogas; IRCCA.
Youth Participation
ConsultativeCivil society and youth advocates participate in national drug strategy consultations.
Evidence · Junta Nacional de Drogas.
Treatment Systems
Publicly fundedTreatment is voluntary and integrated into the public health system.
Evidence · Junta Nacional de Drogas.
Sources · Harm Reduction International, Global State of Harm Reduction 2024 · UNODC · WHO · EMCDDA/EUDA · national laws and civil-society monitoring. Last reviewed Harm Reduction International 2024.
Start locally
No active SSDP chapter is listed for Uruguay yet. Young people can start with peer education, coalition-building and the chapter starter pathway.
Open pathwayCompare policy
Use Policy Lab to compare Uruguay with countries that have decriminalisation, harm reduction or youth-participation reforms.
Open pathwayFind support
If someone needs urgent medical, legal or crisis support, use the help pathway and contact qualified local services.
Open pathway