Introduction:

For states and international organizations, one of the main concerns regarding drugs is finding a balance between the fight against drug trafficking and respect for International Human Rights law.

Objective:

This article aims to analyze whether there is an international treatment for the protection of consumer rights in the Universal and Inter-American Human Rights System and if the elements addressed by these have been implemented in Colombian legislation and jurisprudence, in the development of international obligations on human rights adopted by Colombia.

Materials and method:

The research was carried out in three phases, following a qualitative, dogmatic and prescriptive methodology, the main input of which was the collection of national laws and instruments of the international framework of Human Rights, related to drug consumption and treatment, during the period 2010-2019.

Results:

The main findings showed that there are no international standards with a special focus for the protection and recognition of the rights of drug users. Likewise, no representative progress has been observed in national and international regulations, and although Colombian jurisprudence proposes some references to international laws, there is no in-depth development of the subject.

Conclusions:

The main challenge is for the Colombian State to approach the subject from a different perspective other than just puni shment.

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