The use of alternatives to imprisonment for individuals who have a substance use problem should be encouraged, Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Carmelo Abela, told a meeting of National Drug Coordinators (NDCs) from the 28 European Union Member States. He referred to the growing base of evidence showing that these alternatives can be much more effective in rehabilitation, especially if tailored according to the specific needs of the individual.
The EU Drugs Strategy (2013-2020) and the EU Action Plan on Drugs (2013-2016) encourage Member States to provide, where appropriate and in accordance with their legal frameworks, alternatives to coercive sanctions, such as education, treatment, rehabilitation, aftercare, and social integration for drug-using offenders.
The meeting of NDCs was held in St Julian’s on Monday, 24thApril 2017 in accordance with the EU Action Plan on Drugs, that stipulates for such a meeting to be organised by each rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. The event gave delegates the opportunity to discuss in an informal atmosphere the current situation in Malta following the drug law reform which has been in force for two years. This development was viewed in an EU and international context through the experiences of other Member States with regard to alternative sanctioning for drug-dependent individuals.
“It is a source of great satisfaction that Malta took a significant step forward in this regard with the entry into force of The Drug Dependence (Treatment and Not Imprisonment) Act in 2015,” said Minister Abela. “That law aims at allowing for the treatment of persons in possession of small quantities of prohibited drugs for personal use, and for other measures for the rehabilitation of persons suffering from drug dependence. The main aim of this law is to extend a helping hand to users who are starting to being trapped by serious drug dependence and to steer them back on the right track. Drug laws need to be harsh against the trafficker and not the victim.”
The Minister positively noted that, in varying degrees, all EU Member States have alternatives to coercive sanctions in place. However, barriers still exist and these should be addressed while discussions on the common barriers to the use of these alternatives should be encouraged. He said that acknowledging that there are doubts about the effectiveness of coercive sanctions is the first step towards making progress in this field. Discussing the alternatives in an open and forward-looking manner, as was done during the meeting or NDCs in Malta, is a second important step.