Pubdate: Sun, 04 May 2003
Source: Independent on Sunday (UK)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/208
Author: Sophie Goodchild

SOROS TAKES UN TO TASK ON DRUGS

George Soros, one of the world's richest men, has funded a new lobby group 
which will push for more treatment programmes for drug users instead of 
punishing them with long prison sentences.

The Hungarian-born financier has been advised by Mike Trace, the 
Government's former deputy drugs tsar. One result of their collaboration is 
the lobby group Forward Thinking on Drugs.

The group recently conducted research which concluded that drug use has 
stabilised in countries that have piloted measures such as needle 
exchanges, drug consumption rooms, heroin on prescription and public health 
programmes aimed at improving the health of addicts.

Its publication coincides with a UN review of its 10-year strategy to make 
a significant reduction in both the supply and demand of drugs by 2008. 
Anti-drug abuse campaigners have dismissed the UN's policy, which favours 
punishment over rehabilitation, as a failure.

Disagreements between the authorities are also becoming more apparent. In 
February this year, the UN drugs committee - the International Narcotic 
Control Board - attacked the British Government's proposal to downgrade 
cannabis in a report which said it had pushed through the policy 
"intimidated by a vocal minority that wants to legalise illicit drug use".

As many as 108 MEPs have now signed a petition calling for the UN to 
abandon its existing drugs convention.
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