Condemnation Overdose

06 November 2007

The Prejudice Overdose is the name of the campaign launched, on the occasion of the international day for fight against drug abuse, by a group of NGOs and informal groups from Macedonia, led by HOPS Healthy Living Options harm reduction programme, with support from formal and informal groups and individuals from SEE, but also from Russia and Switzerland.

The campaign aims to support the opening of centres for treatment of addictions in Macedonia. There have been problems in that process for four years now, with Macedonian authorities being the biggest obstacle. Namely, although finances were secured back in 2004, nobody in the Government found it necessary to implement those funds and thus complete the implementation of the project to open three more centres for treatment of addictions. In the meantime, the numbers of drug-addicts in Macedonia has risen and follows a constant growing trend.

That problem gained momentum during the wars in former-Yugoslavia when, due to the sancions imposed on then FRY, huge quantities of drugs, especially heroin, remained in Macedonia during the �transit�. They say that back then, one could get heroin practically for free in Macedonia. That first big wave set the foundations for dramatic growth of number of addicts in the Country.

The existing centres cannot satisfy the current needs for treatment. In the capital of Skopje, there is only one centre that applies the so-called substitute, methadon treatment, with other centres relying on the so-called �dry� therapy that requires a very good physical and psychological conditions from the addicts, which is largely not the case.

While implementing the new legislation that puts a sign of equality between drug users and drug dealers, the Ministry of the Interior subjects the drug-addicts to horrible repressive measures, being especially harsh on heroin addicts. The penalties are sentenced in absurd situations; addicts are arrested and sentenced even if they didn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t have any drugs in theri posetion, just for presenting a positive urin findings, etc.
The draconian legislation threatens prison sentences even for drug use. Once the addicts are freed from prison, their health is usually seriously deteriorated, and death is imminent withouth treatment centres. That further complicates the situation of both drug-addicts and support groups.

All of that, and more, like the social discrimination of addicts, high mortality rates, etc, was the chief motive for this campaing. It included a number of activities, street actions, workshops, public debates, concerts, parties, over a period of four days. For additional information on all activities, visit www.predoziranost.blog.com.mk.

The campaign organizers hope that their activities will force the competent authorities to start implementing the funds and open three more centres for treatment of addictions, which would greatly ammeliorate the situation in the country and would reduce the number of addicts in a faster, more efficient and humane way than what the �new law� mentioned above proposed.

Treatment is right, not privilege!!!