DECRIMINALIZE DRUG POSSESSION FOR PERSONAL USE
According to the World Health Organisation over 2 billion use Psychoactive substances like Methamphetamines with over 185 Million people use drugs.
By Hope Musonda
Harm Reduction Zambia Network has called for the decriminalisation of drug possession for personal or recreational use in Zambia.
Speaking during a workshop held in Lusaka entitled: People Before Policies,with the theme:calling to mobilize energy and conviction to shift the nation’s focus from the current emphasis on punitive law enforcement to one that emphasises the well-being and rights of people who use drugs,HRZN Executive Director Desmond Chibomboma Sakala stated that drug use is a global and complex issue that intersects across Health,justice and law enforcement sector’s.
He said Zambia could learn from countries like Portugal which demonstrates, policies grounded in evidence and guided by the concern for Public Health and Human rights are more effective in addressing both the supply of drugs and the demand for then as well as their most damaging effects on society
“Needles and syringe programs, quality treatment, education and drug substances like Methadone or Naloxone have been effective in decreasing addiction, overdose and the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C”,He Said.
The ED sated that principled and comprehensive policies which respect Dignity, Human rights and justice will reduce both demand and supply; protect Health; and as envisaged in the outcome document of the 2016 UNGASS on the world Drug problem contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He stated that criminalisation of drug use deters people from accessing treatment and other and social services.Together with the stigimization attitudes and discrimination which it fuels, criminalization is also likely to lead to higher rates of risky injection practice’s and higher risk of overdose, due to the inject quickly and in unsafe place.
He further called on The Zambian to safeguard and improve the well-being of Societies by setting up policies which achieve goals.
Agrippa Daka from the University of Zambia school of engineering highlighted the need for Government to issue Cannabis growing licenses to individuals.
And HARM Reduction Zambia Network director Webster Chomba said it is important to promote harm reduction by providing clean needles, psychological Counseling, providing treatment to drug addiction through implementing the harm reduction policy.
Stakeholders in attendance further called on visibly absent official’s from the Ministry of Health to Honor such invitations from organisations that push for implementation of policies that advocate for Health improvement of the citizenry.
