Treat drug addicts as patients not criminals, say experts

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7

Experts called for decriminalisation of the use of drugs in the state during a national seminar on drug menace held here today. The seminar was organised by Patiala MP Dr Dharamvir Gandhi in Sector 29 here.

In his presidential address, Dr Gandhi called for a radical solution to the drug problem, which has assumed alarming proportions in the state.

He said, “The need of the hour is to break the criminal-politics nexus by radically altering the NDPS Act that tends to promote smuggling by putting a wholesale ban on drugs.”

He called upon decriminalisation of drug addicts and treating them as patients needing medical treatment. He advocated legalisation of certain common recreational drugs such as bhukki and bhang.

Eminent economist and chancellor, Central University, Bathinda, Dr Sardara Singh Johl, chief guest at the seminar, said, “Historical evidence points that banning only leads to smuggling and expansion of drugs in society.” He advocated setting up rural industries and proper “evening management” to keep away youth from drugs.

He said it seemed that the governments were working on the model: ban drugs, smuggle drugs and then promote drugs. “This should stop immediately,” he added.

Former DIG Iqbal Singh Lalpura narrated the experiences he had as a police officer posted in the border area. He shared many incidences of nexus between police and politicians when they were promoting drugs and smugglers.

He called drug smugglers as “sleeper cells and agents of ISI” who were working to destabilise India.

Prof Chaman Lal, retired professor of Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, highlighted the international dimension of the drug policy, stressing that stringent drug laws were implemented by the USA to destabilise revolutionary regimes in South America by promoting drug cartels, who thrived on smuggling due to bans.

“The stringent NDPS Act established in 1985 has led to proliferation of mafia, strengthened criminal-police-political network and filling jails with drug edicts has overburdened criminal investigators and judiciary,” said senior advocate RS Bains.

Mintu Gurusaria, former drug addict-turned-writer, narrated his journey from being a drug addict and a criminal to eventual reformation and redemption.

He stressed that families and societies should show more consideration and understanding towards drug victims, who are ostracised by larger society. He called upon social mobilisation at the grass-roots level as well as actively involving women in this effort.