<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><b>GANGTOK,:</b> A dialogue on drug control policy in Sikkim, organised by the Sikkim Drug
User’s Forum (SDUF) as part of global ‘Support. Don’t Punish’ campaign was held
on Friday at Rachna Books, Gangtok, bringing together the members of civil
society, the legal fraternity, academia and media.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Forum
coordinators Prashant Sharma and Tsewang Gyatso Sherpa outlined the objectives
of the dialogue, stating that the discussion sought to encourage a broader
conversation on drug policy, harm reduction and public health approaches to
substance abuse.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">During the
discussion, Prashant Sharma outlined the evolution of international drug
control frameworks, referring to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961,
the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and the UN Convention against
Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. He noted
that India, as a signatory to these conventions, had shaped the nation’s drug
control law like the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and The Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 in accordance with these
frameworks. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Sharma argued
that global drug control regimes had been significantly influenced by the
powerful countries of the Global North such as United States of America and
United Kingdom which were rooted in punitive and retributive approaches. He
contended that such measures had failed to effectively address addiction and
illicit drug markets, noting that drug related deaths worldwide soared by 36
per cent since 1990. These trends, he
contended underscored the need for policies centred on public heath, harm reduction
and humanism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Among those
present was Advocate Tashi Rabten Barfungpa, president of the Bar Association
of Sikkim, who stressed the need for community-based approach, supported by the
State, to address substance abuse. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Barfungpa
advocated for focus on decriminalisation and rehabilitation for individuals
struggling with addiction, while emphasising the importance of addressing
underlying social and economic circumstances that contribute to addiction
rather than brute ostracism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Participants in
the dialogue also emphasised the need for a shift in societal perceptions of
addiction, noting that substance dependence continues to be heavily
stigmatised. Speakers argued that a distinction should be made between drug use
and addiction, stating that existing policies often address both through a
blanket approach. The discussion highlighted the importance of treating
dependency as health and social issue rather than solely a criminal justice
concern. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">The
coordinators and participants called for a greater investment in rehabilitation
programmes through collaborative efforts between government and civil society
organisations. They stressed that rehabilitation should not only focus on
recovery by force but also restoring dignity through employment opportunities,
social regeneration and community support, free from stigma and discrimination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">The dialogue
concluded with a call for policy reform and greater voice and involvement of
civil society, government executives and law enforcement agencies with a strong
will advocating for amendments to the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act, 2006 arguing that
existing framework should place greater emphasis on harm reduction and social
reintegration alongside enforcement measures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
from
www.sikkimexpress.com
https://ift.tt/v0UBups
via IFTTT
The Menu of this blog is loading..........
0 Comments