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Repressive Narco-Policy and Its Feedback

April 23, 2013

Manana Vardiashvili

Law is very strict about drug-addicts in Georgia. However, it could not resolve the problem. Experts state that as a result of this rigid policy number of drug-addicts increased and part of them started using more dangerous narcotic substances.

27-year-old Giorgi left penitentiary establishment in January of 2013. He served five years for the keeping and addiction of narcotic substances.

“I first injected narcotics to pretend “cute guy” before friends. Then I infused for the second, third … times and finally got addicted to drugs.  It lasted four years. Somebody denounced me to the police and they started observing me. Although I did not commit crime and did not sell narcotics, they arrested me. Drug-addiction is illness and not a crime. I did not commit a crime. I destroyed not only myself but even my family with my drug-addiction,” said Giorgi, who is learning living in freedom from the beginning. He is still unemployed, does not have any income and does not know whether he will ever be employed in future because of his past criminal record.

According to official statistics, more than 1000 people get into penitentiary establishments every year because of drug-related crimes. In parallel to that, these people have their political and civil rights restricted (driving vehicles, to work as a lawyer, doctor, and as public servant) that reduces their chance for the reintegration into society.

Georgian state launched active state policy against drug-abuse in 2007. According to the data of the Prosecutor’s Office, by 2011 the number of drug-crimes reduced at 53%. According to the Supreme Court of Georgia, in 2011, 3 543 people were charged for drug-crimes; among them 1 523 people were convicted for illegal addiction of narcotic substances and administrative fine was imposed on 5 717 people for using narcotic substances without doctor’s prescription.

Director of Alternative Georgia and board member of the Georgian Harm Reduction Network Davit Otiashvili believes the narco-policy of the country is repressive and Criminal Code of Georgia is a good example of it. “In accordance to the Article 260 of the CCG, keeping of narcotic substance of any quantity is already crime. The Article does not distinguish whether the person keeps drugs for personal use or sale. According to the same article, illicit preparation, production, purchase, keeping, shipment, transfer or sale of drugs, the analogy or precursor thereof, shall be punishable by imprisonment for up to eleven years in length; the same action perpetrated in large quantities (in case of heroin the large amount is more than 0.2-1 gram) is punishable by imprisonment ranging from 7 to 14 years; and same action perpetrated in particularly large quantities (more than 1 gram of heroin) is punishable by imprisonment ranging from 8 to 20 years or life imprisonment. Whilst the same Code envisages 7-12 year imprisonment for human trafficking, 4-6 year imprisonment for rape crime and 7-15 year of imprisonment for premeditated murder. Moreover, Article 237 of the CCG sends person to prison for repeated usage of narcotic substance,” Davit Otiashvili said.

Executive director of the Georgian Harm Reduction Network Lasha Zaalishvili said that as a result of repressive narco-policy in the country, the number of drug-addicts increased in Georgia. Reports of the international foundation Curatio and organization Bemon show the alarming statistic. “The surveys showed that largely declared campaign against narco-crime caused that part of drug-addicts started using more dangerous homemade narcotic substances in Georgia.”

Experts state that the situation is aggravated by the fact that adults mostly start addiction with similar homemade drugs - “crocodile” (Desomorphin, so called “krakadil”) and since it costs cheaper, they get more addicted to it.

Doctors call “crocodile” the drug of self-killers. Its usage causes very rapid negative result because of its chemical components – it is 20 times more toxic than morph. Crocodile causes addiction earlier than any other homemade narcotic substances and the drug-addict suffers from more acute pains when he tries to recover from the addiction and requires new higher dosage of drugs that often results in overdosing and mortality.

MP Pavel Bam from Czech Republic believes the narco-policy shall necessarily change in Georgia. He justifies his opinion by international experience. “Imprisonment of drug-addicts and their criminalization is still ordinary case in many countries worldwide.  Experience of last 20 years showed that placing drug-addicts in prison is very ineffective method and it costs too expensive for the state to keep them in prison. We lose resource for their recovery and rehabilitation. World practice shows that decriminalization of drug-addicts has positive output. In the decriminalization process it is easy to reach so-called hidden drug-addicts who have no contact with healthcare field. The surveys show that only one fourth of estimated 45 000 drug-addicts in Georgia enjoy the services of healthcare system. It means, other drug-addicts might get sick with AID or C Hepatitis and create threats for the rest of society too.”

Parliament of Georgia intends to revise the narco-policy and introduce changes into the relevant law in the autumn session. Members of the Georgian Harm Reduction Network hope the new government will be more flexible in considering the practice of developed countries and accept their recommendations. The network members have already involved the process of working out new narco-policy in the country. There are three specialists in the expert council acting with the parliamentary committee and one of them represents the drug-addict community.

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