Under the
theme of “Support! Don’t Punish” in celebration of International Day Against
Drugs on Sunday, a coalition of NGOs yesterday urged a more rehabilitative
approach to drug users rather than seeing them as criminals.
Sok
Chamroeun, the executive director of public health NGO Khana, said addicts use
drugs for a wide range of societal and physiological circumstances and it was
wrong to brand them as criminals.
“If they
are in this situation, they themselves are the victims. The message from Samdech
Decho also said that the drug abusers are the victims and we want the message
heard to all law enforcement including the police and authorities to stop them
from thinking they are criminals,” he said.
“We
cannot put the blame on anyone because the situation of living with drugs is
related to many aspects. It can be because of themselves, time, environment,
society and family.”
Chhum
Vannarith, an undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Health, also noted the
circumstances that can lead people to drug abuse and said the ministry plans to
expand its funding to provide community support, but needed to wait for the
approval of international donor Global Fund.
“The
risks can be problems with their mental condition, physical condition because
of a lack of nutrition, not to mention communicable diseases like Aids or
hepatitis because of the use of needles,” he said.
“Even
though there are legal conflicts, we have support from the leadership of
government and the ministry is trying to provide services at the community
level, and for the drug injection abuser the Soviet Hospital is planning to
expand its services at Meanchey Hospital when there is approval for funds from
Global Fund.”
Drug
users face charges and imprisonment if caught by police. Their drug habits
often become worse when sent to prison where drug dealing and use has become
rampant.
Dr.
Vannarith urged family members to bring addicts to facilities that offer
treatment, before they are caught by police.
Meas
Virith, the secretary general of the secretariat of the National Authority on
Combating Drugs, said Cambodia is highly susceptible to the woes of
drug-related problems due to its proximity to the Golden Triangle.
“Because Cambodia is close to the golden
triangle, it is used as a hotbed for drug transport to third countries,” he
said.
He
acknowledged that government attempts to combat drug use has failed to deliver
any notable results, with drug trafficking and usage becoming more prevalent
than ever.
“I would
like to say the drug crackdown is not a failure, but not a success because of
the complicated nature of the drug operation that always evade the police
tactics,” he said.
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