The activist proposes to reform the system of combating drug addiction

Baku/07.02.22/Turan: The fight against the spread of drugs should not be a campaign, there should be a well-thought-out state policy in this area. This opinion was expressed to Turan by human rights activist Elshan Hasanov. He drew attention to the fact that recently law enforcement agencies report almost daily about dozens of people detained on suspicion of drug-related crimes.

“A few days ago, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported about arrested drug addicts in the Sabunchu region. I myself live in the Sabunchu district and I can say that the problem of drug addiction is acute here, as well as in the capital in general. Each district inspector knows all the drug addicts. Despite the neighbors' complaints, the law enforcement agencies have not yet responded to this,” Hasanov said.

Now the measures being taken are reminiscent of campaigning in the spirit of the Soviet era, and not only drug dealers, but also drug patients are being arrested. The Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP), a public body founded in 2011, believes that repression does not solve the problem of drug addiction.

The commission made a number of recommendations in its report. In particular, instead of criminal prosecution and punishment of drug addicts, provide them with medical and preventive care and treatment. Overcoming drug addiction through voluntary treatment, rather than forced treatment and punishment, is more effective.

In Azerbaijan, drug addicts are recognized as violators of the law. At the same time, there is a law on compulsory treatment for drug addiction.

Hasanov believes that the authorities use a wide range of punitive measures in the fight against drug addiction to persecute government critics. Thus, in the list of political prisoners, a significant part is made up of people convicted of drugs.

The human rights activist also drew attention to the fact that in Azerbaijan the permissible threshold for possession of drugs is much lower than in other countries.

Thus, in Azerbaijan it is allowed to have 1 gram of marijuana for personal use. In Ukraine it is 5 grams, in Finland - 15 grams, in Austria - 20 grams, Portugal - 25 grams, the Netherlands - 30 grams.

“That is, a drug addict in Azerbaijan is considered, contrary to world standards, not as a sick person, but as a criminal. He is sentenced to compulsory treatment.

All this creates conditions for corruption. There is no treatment for drug addicts at all in correctional facilities. And compulsory treatment only contributes to extorting money from those arrested, since a drug addict who does not have a certificate of treatment cannot count on early release and is blackmailed to be re-arrested for drug addiction,” Hasanov continued.

Despite the existence of numerous NGOs and allocated funds, there is practically no work to solve the problem of drug addiction.

The human rights activist proposes to recognize drug addicts in Azerbaijan as sick in accordance with global standards, with the ensuing consequences. That is, to establish treatment for them on a voluntary basis, to provide a comprehensive medical and psychosocial examination and treatment.

The activist proposes to establish in the penitentiary system public control over the distribution of funds allocated for the treatment of drug patients and the procedures for medical care for them.

Hasanov also proposes to abolish the law on compulsory treatment and bring the legislation of Azerbaijan to the standards of democratic states.—06D-