Pubdate: Wed, 30 Jan 2008
Source: Navhind Times, The (India)
Copyright: 2008sNavhind Papers & Publications Ltd
Contact:  http://www.navhindtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3430
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hr.htm (Harm Reduction)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)

STUDY SHOWS INCIDENCE OF DRUG RELATED RISK BEHAVIOUR IN PRISON SETTINGS

Panaji, Jan 29 Authorities should recognise that many  offenders who
violate drug laws, and drug offenders who  commit other criminal acts,
commit their crimes because  they are themselves addicted to drugs.
Authorities  should find that treating offenders for their  addictions
is more effective and economical than  punishing them through the
criminal justice system. In  short, drug use should be decriminalised
and treated  more as a health issue.This is one of the major points
for discussion that arose out of a study of "The  Situation and
Experience of Drug Users in Custodial  settings in Asia." This
"snapshot" study is an  initiative of a Delhi-based NGO Sharan and
the Indian  Harm Reduction Network (IHRN). The report was presented
at the first Asian Consultation on the Prevention of  HIV related to
Drug Use, now underway at the Kala  Academy, Panaji. The broad aim of
this report is to  contribute to the mobilisation of public awareness
on  the health and human righ! ts issues affecting drug users  in
general but particularly in custodial settings in  Asia.

The study findings suggest that most drug users  initiate drug use at
an early stage or during  adolescence. When incarcerated, they are put
into the  same prisons with other hardened criminals. The study
suggests that 33 per cent of the respondents initiated  drug use below
the age of 15 years raising questions  about the legal age of
incarceration and the wisdom of  introducing youth to criminal networks.

The study indicated a high incidence of drug use  related risk
behaviour in prison settings. A majority  of the respondents had used
drugs in prison and over a  quarter had injected and shared
injections. Evidence  shows HIV prevalence to be much higher in
prisons than  in the community but prison settings are poorly covered
in terms of HIV prevention interventions and effective  drug treatment.

Another concern is the contradiction that exists in the  approach to
controlling the HIV epidemic. On one hand,  governments in Asia are
directing their limited  resources to control HIV. On the other hand,
the  government-run prisons and compulsory rehabilitation  centres are
turning out to be virtual hubs for the  spread of the disease.

The study of drug users in custody revealed that 83.4  per cent tested
positive for HIV and 70 per cent knew  their status. Besides 45.5 per
cent had Hepatitis C,  36.4 per cent had sexually transmitted diseases
and  18.2 per cent had tuberculosis. Almost 80 per cent had
experience of being physically abused in prison.

The fallout of the report is a discussion, which  suggests that
governments, rather than forcing drug  users into prisons, could give
offenders the option of  being referred to evidence-based drug
treatments.  Imprisonment of drug users is more of a punishment and
is not a solution to the problem. Prisons are  inappropriate to offer
conducive environment for drug  treatment, the discussion suggests.
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