Changing trends in West Africa’s drug policy terrain: a theoretical perspective

ABSTRACT

This article examines the challenges of narcotic drugs in West Africa following the region's emergence as a major transit zone for the trafficking of cocaine and other illicit drugs to many countries in Europe. In addition to the trafficking problem, the use of narcotic drugs has been on the increase in the region. In effect, the drug policy terrain in West Africa appears to be undergoing changing trends. To understand these changes, the article draws on the policy paradigm (orders of change) theory to examine the types of change that are occurring. The analysis reveals that the drug policy terrain is undergoing first and second order changes.

KEYWORDS:

• Policy change
• drug trafficking
• policy paradigm theory
• policy entrepreneurs
• West Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.