Statement

The current drug policy in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia generates stigma, discrimination and degrading treatment of drug users, which is impeding an open dialogue in the decision making process on the issues affecting people who use drugs. When making decisions on policy and legislation issues national governments are guided by the principle of absolute prohibition of drug use and apply repressive drug control sanctions, rather than the concept of presumption of human rights. Repressive legislation and legal practices result in an increasing burden of public expenditures for law enforcement and penitentiary systems maintenance, against the interests and at the expense of public health.

1.3. To ensure that the legal rights of people who use drugs are respected, including the right to free and quality legal aid.

1.4. To strengthen the regulation of misuse of power by drug control and law enforcement personnel and their illegal actions with regards to people who use drugs.

1.5. To protect personal data of people who use drugs, including their health-related data, from disclosure to law-enforcement agencies, employers or educational institutions.

1.6. To promote the adoption and implementation of legislation and policies that provide adequate availability, accessibility and quality of needle and syringe programs and opioid substitution therapy programs, including in prisons.

1.7. To ensure that the national regulations of opioid substitution therapy programs are in line with international treatment standards and guidelines, including express provisions that allow authorized treatment facilities to dispense methadone and/or buprenorphine for later use outside of the treatment facility, and that allow dispensation of these medications by prescription.

1.8. To strengthen the legislation on discrimination in health care and other settings against people who use drugs and people living with HIV.

1.9. To abolish the laws, policies and practices that restrict the reproductive and family rights of people who use drugs.

1.10 To ensure the access to treatment of HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and reversal of drug overdose in accordance with the best international practice.

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