STUDY SHOWS INCIDENCE OF DRUG RELATED RISK BEHAVIOUR IN PRISON SETTINGS

Panaji, Jan 29 Authorities should recognise that many offenders who
violate drug laws, and drug offenders who commit other criminal acts,
commit their crimes because they are themselves addicted to drugs.
Authorities should find that treating offenders for their addictions
is more effective and economical than punishing them through the
criminal justice system. In short, drug use should be decriminalised
and treated more as a health issue.This is one of the major points
for discussion that arose out of a study of "The Situation and
Experience of Drug Users in Custodial settings in Asia." This
"snapshot" study is an initiative of a Delhi-based NGO Sharan and
the Indian Harm Reduction Network (IHRN). The report was presented
at the first Asian Consultation on the Prevention of HIV related to
Drug Use, now underway at the Kala Academy, Panaji. The broad aim of
this report is to contribute to the mobilisation of public awareness
on the health and human righ! ts issues affecting drug users in
general but particularly in custodial settings in Asia.

The study findings suggest that most drug users initiate drug use at
an early stage or during adolescence. When incarcerated, they are put
into the same prisons with other hardened criminals. The study
suggests that 33 per cent of the respondents initiated drug use below
the age of 15 years raising questions about the legal age of
incarceration and the wisdom of introducing youth to criminal networks.

The study indicated a high incidence of drug use related risk
behaviour in prison settings. A majority of the respondents had used
drugs in prison and over a quarter had injected and shared
injections. Evidence shows HIV prevalence to be much higher in
prisons than in the community but prison settings are poorly covered
in terms of HIV prevention interventions and effective drug treatment.

Another concern is the contradiction that exists in the approach to
controlling the HIV epidemic. On one hand, governments in Asia are
directing their limited resources to control HIV. On the other hand,
the government-run prisons and compulsory rehabilitation centres are
turning out to be virtual hubs for the spread of the disease.

The study of drug users in custody revealed that 83.4 per cent tested
positive for HIV and 70 per cent knew their status. Besides 45.5 per
cent had Hepatitis C, 36.4 per cent had sexually transmitted diseases
and 18.2 per cent had tuberculosis. Almost 80 per cent had
experience of being physically abused in prison.

The fallout of the report is a discussion, which suggests that
governments, rather than forcing drug users into prisons, could give
offenders the option of being referred to evidence-based drug
treatments. Imprisonment of drug users is more of a punishment and
is not a solution to the problem. Prisons are inappropriate to offer
conducive environment for drug treatment, the discussion suggests.