Global War on Drugs takes Devastating Toll on Human Lives in India

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Please find below a press release detailing the devastating effect the

global war on drugs is having on the lives of drug users in India, which is

detailed in a new report released today. Please find attached the chapter on

India. To download the full report please go to www.soros.org/health/drugwar.

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/health/focus/ihrd/articles_publications/publica\

tions/atwhatcost_20090302

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Global War on Drugs Takes Devastating Toll on Human Lives in India

Repressive approaches to drug control are having a devastating effect on the

health and human rights of injecting drug users in India, reveals a new report

by the Open Society Institute released today.

The Indian Network for People Living with HIV (INP+) contributes a chapter in

the new volume on drug control policies and HIV prevention and care among

injection drug users entitled “Drug Control Policies and HIV Prevention and Care

among Injection Drug Users in Imphal, India”.

Researchers document overwhelming evidence of human rights violations

against drug users in India including high levels of police violence and

harassment. Evidence shows that fear of police abuse or incarceration

discourages drug users from carrying sterile injection equipment, and to engage

in unsafe injection practices. As a key informant questioned said, “If they

cannot even carry clean syringes how can you expect them to carry used syringes

for exchange?”

Incarceration can also lead to severe health consequences for people who are

addicted to drugs. Drug users report up to 30 inmates sharing one syringe in

detention, where drugs are widely available but access to clean injection

equipment is not.

Identifying the critical public health consequences of discrimination and abuse

by law enforcement, the authors make a series of recommendations to help align

drug control efforts with health and human rights.

These recommendations include:

• Train/sensitize police on harm reduction and human rights of drug users

• Sensitize the general public to decrease societal stigma/discrimination

against people who use drugs

• Create partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the public health

sector

• Police should exercise discretion in implementing drug-related

laws/policies

• In prisons, introduce harm reduction services and ensure treatment for people

living with HIV

Jayanta Kumar Kh. “Bobby”, board member of the Indian Network for People living

with HIV (INP+) said: “HIV prevention and care among IDUs in India, like

elsewhere, is complicated by the presence of criminal laws that are supposed to

control illicit drug use but actually impinges on the rights of people who use

drugs. This makes IDUs more vulnerable to HIV infection because of the barriers

they face in accessing HIV prevention services.

For those drug users who are HIV-infected, the laws also pose barriers –

directly or indirectly – so they cannot even access the basic treatment services

they need.”

The OSI publication, which includes studies and testimonies reflecting

conditions in more than 30 countries, examines the ramifications of ignoring

public health concerns. Through firsthand interviews, policy analyses, and case

studies,

At What Cost?: HIV and Human Rights Consequences of the Global

War on Drugs highlights the ineffectiveness of drug control to achieve its

goals, and its far-reaching, unintended consequences.

For more information and to download a copy of the report, go to

www.soros.org/health/drugwar.

For more information about this press release please contact Kh. Jayanta Kumar

(“Bobby”) on bobby.kh@... +91-9910724196.