A forensic pharmacologist who worked on the introduction of breathalyser tests in Malta yesterday told the Social Affairs committee that Malta must implement a policy on drugs, and in the meantime, it must also decide on whether we should pursue prohibition or pursue leagalisation.

Addiction is a sickness. Just like an alcoholic or a smoker cannot just simply recover because they are told to, a person who is addicted to drugs cannot simply kick the habit just because they are hauled before the courts. While there are some chemical composition factors, drug addicts normally have an underlying cause as to why they feel they need to escape the real world. Once that need sets in, it paves the way for the path towards addiction. While there are rehab centres in Malta, the concept is still new and the supporting structures around it still need strengthening. It is understandable that drug addicts have to answer for crimes. Having an addiction is not an excuse to go and burgle and steal. But being in possession of drugs for personal use is a totally different kettle of fish. Simple arresting people and putting them in prison just does not solve anything.

The same pharmacologist said that Malta has been reluctant to amend drug laws – something which he said is essential because it needed to reflect present-day realities. We could not agree more. We really have to ask this question of our society. Does it make any sense whatsoever to arrest a youngster for being in possession of cannabis or party drugs, when at the same time we tolerate drink driving to the extreme? The pharmacologist made a very similar observation in what he said. However, he pointed out that everything needs to go hand in hand, one could not leave the loophole of driving under the influence of drugs open – as is the status quo. So we have a society where the police crackdown on tiny amounts of drugs, yet there is no law against driving under their influence, while enforcement of drink driving is extremely lax.

But the issue is very complex. It seems that according to this expert’s advice – Malta would either have to make complete about turn in mentality – or get bogged down in more legal issues. He was referring to first time users, saying that one could not just implement policy on those users because it would not be practical.

There is no doubt that there is not one simple solution. People who are experts in the field – on an enforcement, rehab, social and political level need to sit down and hammer out a drug policy that is relevant to today’s needs. Drugs are here, they are a problem. They always have been and always will be. Locking people up or pretending that the problem isn’t real is not going to help anyone.