- Mrs Maria-Goretti Loglo, the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC ) Consultant for Africa has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working on drug abuse issues to intensify efforts and harmonise their motives to whip up government’s interest in the welfare of individuals with substance abuse disorders.
Speaking at the World Drug Day event organized in Accra by the West Africa Drug Policy Network Ghana (WADPN) in partnership with the West Africa Civil Society institute (WACSI), she noted that disunity among civil society organisations in Ghana is hindering efforts to draw the needed support from government to support individuals with substance abuse problems.
To get government to prioritize the needs of these individuals, “CSO’s must organise themselves and intensify their efforts. What I have realised is that CSOs are doing things separately. There is the need to harmonize, intensify and speak with one voice to get government involved.”
She bemoaned the practice where people with drug abuse problems are punished and bundled up in prison together with hard core criminals which according to her, makes matters worse for these people.
She however, suggested that there should be alternatives to punishment and imprisonment of such individuals.
“We should not put them in prison because prison has not actually addressed the problem but rather worsened the situation,” she averred.
“We should support and not punish them because substance abuse problem is a brain condition and it’s better to help them rather than putting them in prison and worsening the case.”
She further recommended that government adopt human centred and health based policies that will help promote the well-being of this group of people.
Civil Society Organisations and the Media personnel at the World Drug Day Press Briefing
The police and drug addicts
A study on people with substance use disorders undergoing rehabilitation was released during the event and it focused primarily on drug abusers’ relationship or experiences with the police.
The findings revolved around two major areas: Bribery, and non-deterrence of police arrest and detention.
First, it confirmed the suspicion held by many that some police officers who arrest these addicts take bribes from them before releasing them. This, according to the study goes a long way to demonstrate that the police do not understand the situation of these individuals with substance use disorders.
Participants used for the research work (drug addicts) made rather shocking revelations that their contact as well as experience with the police never deterred them from engaging in drugs.
Recommendations
The study recommends the need for the police to be educated on the situation of individuals with substance use disorders, which will inform their attitudes towards them.
The research depicts that assault, torture of these individuals do not deter them from future drug use.
Additionally, arrest, detention or likelihood of imprisonment does not deter them from taking drugs. Police detention or possible incarceration doesn’t necessarily solve the problem.
A more potent way is to rehabilitate them and the Police can help in this regard by referring them to rehabilitation centres for treatment.
Discussions also centred on the challenges and achievements of persons working in rehabilitation and the effectiveness of rehabilitation.
By Pamela Ofori-Boateng/Business World Ghana