VATICAN'S STANCE ON UN DRUGS POLICY 'RISKS LIVES'

The Vatican has been accused of putting the lives of thousands at
risk by attempting to influence UN drugs policy on the eve of a major
international declaration.

The Vatican's objection to "harm reduction" strategies, such as
needle exchange schemes, has ignited a fierce debate between the US
and the EU over how drugs should be tackled.

A new UN declaration of intent is due to be signed in Vienna on 11
March. However, there are major disagreements between member
countries over whether a commitment to "harm reduction" should be
included in the document, which is published every 10 years.

Now the Vatican has issued a statement that claims that using drugs
is "anti-life" and "so-called harm reduction leads to liberalisation
of the use of drugs". The Vatican's last-minute intervention appears
to have led to Italy withdrawing from the EU consensus on the issue
and thrown the talks over the declaration into confusion.

In 1998, the declaration of intent was "a drug-free world - we can do
it", which critics claimed was unrealistic and did not address the
complex nature of drug treatment. In favour of including support for
a harm reduction clause are most EU countries, Brazil and other Latin
American countries, Australia and New Zealand. They argue that some
commitment to tackling HIV and addiction through needle exchange
programmes and methadone and other drugs should be included. Opposed
to this are the US, Russia and Japan. The US position has been that
such inclusion sends the wrong message, although there have been
indications a more liberal policy might be adopted under Barack Obama.

"By making a statement against harm reduction, the Vatican has
indicated that its moral objection to drug use is more important than
its commitment to the sanctity of life," said Release, the UK-based
drugs and legal advice charity.

"If the Vatican is allowed to influence the UN to adopt a naive and
ineffective drug policy, it will needlessly lead to the increased
spread of blood-borne viruses and the death of thousands more people
from HIV/Aids."

Release argues that drug treatment programmes are vital for people
suffering from HIV/Aids and that not to accept this will put their
lives at risk. "Needle and syringe exchange programmes have
significantly contributed to the reduction of HIV transmission among
people who use drugs," it said.

A spokesman for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) confirmed
last night that "there are still differences of opinion" over the statement.

Other drug charities and foundations have also been critical of the
Vatican's move. Mike Trace, chairman of the International Drug Policy
Consortium, said: "Progressive governments, including the UK, are now
faced with the dilemma of trying to rescue reasonable support for
harm reduction or not sign the declaration."

Antonio Costa, the head of UNODC, has claimed harm reduction has been
appropriated by "a vocal minority". He said in a speech last
November: "This kind of harm reduction can prevent the spread of
blood-borne diseases. But it does not solve the underlying problem,
and can even perpetuate drug use."