Panama Presents National Drug Policy for 2026 to 2036
PANAMA CITY, August 14, 2026 – Panama National Drug Policy 2026-2036 was presented by the National Commission for the Study and Prevention of Drug-Related Crimes, known as Conapred, Metro Libre reported.
Attorney General Luis Gomez Rudy said the document constitutes a state vision and a roadmap for the next ten years, aimed at strengthening an integrated, coordinated and evidence-based response to the drug phenomenon.
He said the policy will strengthen institutional governance, improve coordination between competent entities, prioritise resources and establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
Gomez Rudy pointed to the challenges the country faces from the expansion of transnational organised crime, the diversification of drug trafficking routes and the appearance of new psychoactive substances.
The guide reflects the priorities of national decision-makers and complements the last National Drug Strategy, which covered 2012 to 2017, acting on two broad fronts: reducing demand and controlling the supply of drugs and related crimes.
The document sets out interinstitutional and intersectoral initiatives to prevent substance use, giving priority to children and young people as well as other vulnerable groups, and prioritises integrated recovery and reintegration into the workforce for people treated for substance use.
The update was motivated in part by the evolution of international commitments, monitoring methodologies and standards for formulating public policy.
Why it matters
The policy replaces a strategic framework that had not been updated since 2017 and will guide prevention, treatment and enforcement spending for a decade.
What happens next
Implementation depends on the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms the policy establishes across participating institutions.
