Expert groups call on gov't to reconsider drug strategy

By: MTI
Source: caboodle.hu

Expert organisations invited by the government to asses its new drug strategy have unequivocally called for reworking the plans, daily Nepszabadsag said on Tuesday.

The government's new strategy was prepared by a professional working group and published in August. They said the previous policy, approved in 2009, failed to fulfil expectations. Hungary used to be a transit country for drugs and has become a target country; first-time drug users are increasingly younger and many dealers hide behind the provision that drug dealers are judged more leniently if they are abusers themselves.

Under the new strategy, the government plans to tighten punitive measures against drug abusers.

However, the Hungarian Addictology Society believes that introducing stricter regulations will not prevent drug abuse.

The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union said the new strategy goes against European practices and it is unsuitable for a future drug policy. Many of the planned measures, such as setting up an online monitoring service and banning the use of the hemp symbol, would be unconstitutional, they said.