Haryati Jonet, who used drugs for 20 years and now does outreach work with addicts, said drug users need holistic support systems and help to kick the habit and become productive members of society.
“Drug use is seen from a punitive, criminal and legal standpoint and not from a health perspective, especially not in terms of recovery,” she said at a roundtable discussion on enhancing the health and criminal justice outcomes of prisoners in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.
The discussion was held at the Institute for Strategic and International Studies (Isis) Malaysia.
“Drug users require a needs-based approach which will provide choices for them to live better lives.”
She said the punitive approach would only deter drug users from seeking healthcare services and increase the chances of them developing chronic illnesses.
“The punitive approach affects their health status and increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.”
Haryati said it was important that all relevant agencies get together in order to change how drug addicts are dealt with.
“At every level, key stakeholders, NGOs, policymakers and the government need to work hand in hand to address drug use from an evidence-based health perspective, and not merely through discrimination, criminalisation and the legal perspective.”
Meanwhile, Nick Thomson, who is director of the Law Enforcement and Public Health Programme at the University of Melboune’s School of Population and Global Health, said arrest quotas which police officers need to meet to move up the hierarchy do not help eradicate the punitive approach.
“In order to get the law enforcers to interact with drug suspects, divert them to health centres and engage with community leaders. They need to be given the incentive to do so.”