‘Support, don’t punish drug users’

“A drug addict is the most misunderstood and maligned member of our society. And if the addict has HIV, he is perhaps the most wretched and marginalized of all,” says Suthirtha Dutta, a self-identified former drug user -turned- activist with the Hridaya Project under India HIV/AIDS Alliance.
This weekend, even as youngsters lined up to watch the latest films releasing at the cineplexes around Gandhi Maidan, Dutta and 50-odd citizens campaigned with the slogan ‘Support.Don’t Punish’, reminding them that substance abuse has several ‘uncool’ dimensions.
“June 26 is observed as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Ironically, this day is used by governments to ‘celebrate’ drug arrests, seizures and even executions. In India, as well as in other countries, the easiest way for police to obtain those impressive numbers that can showcase their success in the ‘war against drugs’ is to round up the poor drug users (not the powerful ones), and frame them for possession. In a way, June 26 is when you’re celebrating the trampling on the human rights of your weakest citizens,” Dutta rued.
Three NGOs working with injecting drug users in Patna joined thousands of others in over 150 cities around the world to ‘change the narrative and highlight the need for a better approach’. According to the National Aids Control Organisation’s 2013-14 Annual report, there are some 4,250 people who inject drugs in Bihar. This data is based on Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) figures obtained through their NGO partners working on ‘targeted interventions’. Obviously, this is the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
In a memorandum submitted on the occasion to BSACS and the district collector, the campaigners pointed out that the number of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres supported by the health and family welfare ministry and social justice department was inadequate. Even the existing services are faulty.
‘Violence, maltreatment, refusal of services, forcefully keeping clients for more days than required within the de-addiction programme’ were some of the unethical practices of privately run centres. The campaigners appealed to the government to ensure monitoring of all de-addiction services and their compliance with the minimum care standards laid down by the ministry.
“The issues are just so many, that we can’t discuss them in an hour or address them with one event. Has this ‘war on drugs’ approach achieved anything? You criminalize the users, throw them in jail, some countries execute them. Can we say that the number of drug users has gone down? Honestly, no. You have just pushed the users further underground, and made the illicit trade even more profitable for the drug cartels. And of course the local cop has a powerful stick with which to extract bribes and protection money, hence your war on drugs has furthered corruption,” argued Dutta.
“Our approach is, don’t criminalize the user in such a way that there is no hope for real rehabilitation. There are several instances of a recovering addict being framed by policemen and being thrown in jail, where his hope for a future is dashed. We are saying, families should be more understanding of youngsters who have fallen into this habit and should support them to kick the habit.”