PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami said that government's war on drugs in the Corradino Correctional Facility has failed. He was speaking in Parliament, and reminded people of government's pledge to reform the prison, and end drug abuse there. In this, he said, government has failed. "In November 2013, government hired an ex-US soldier to bring discipline to the prison. Former Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia had said he was starting a war to end drugs in prison. [continues 282 words]
While in Malta the political sector of the country is greatly engaged in the debate as to whether or not drugs should be decriminalised, it would be wise to propose the Church's view on the subject. As we all know, if the Church simply ignores her golden input she would be betraying one of her main roles in the world, namely that of forming people's consciences. In order that this great ideal is lovingly realised, I shall be offering Pope Francis' teaching on the matter. [continues 622 words]
Regarding Alison Bezzina's column entitled Let's talk about drugs (TMIS, 13 July), the global drug war is largely a war on cannabis, by far the most popular illicit drug. There is a big difference between condoning cannabis use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalisation acknowledges the social reality of cannabis and frees users from the stigma of lifeshattering criminal records. What is really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as organised crime controls cannabis distribution, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. This 'gateway' is a direct result of cannabis prohibition. [continues 84 words]
Luckily, most of us don't do drugs. Unfortunately this makes us think that drug legislation has nothing to do with us. As a result very few seem to be concerned with what is being proposed in the new Drug Law reform. The truth is however, that we should all be very concerned about drug-related laws because somehow or another they will, and do, affect all of us - from users, to family members, from the state of our health systems, to the state of our justice system, from higher taxes to higher insurance premiums as a result of drug-related crimes; like it or not, in one way or another, we're all affected. [continues 867 words]
Cultivation of Cannabis to Remain Illegal White Paper on the decriminalisation of drugs suggests the introduction of medical use of marijuana and new ways how to tackle users who are caught with small amounts of the drug. It would still be considered illegal, however, to grow the plant. In order to take cannabis for medical use, persons must have a recommendation from someone holding the rank of consultant. Medical marijuana refers to sprays or other medical items which contain marijuana, and not the kind smoked on the streets, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici explained. [continues 461 words]
The government has already declared its intention to decriminalise substance abuse but up to now one cannot understand exactly to where the new drugs' policy is pointing: will it lead to a liberal progressive quasi legalisation of drugs for recreational purposes on the basis of a created civil right or will it lead to the humane system of depenalisation and rehabilitation, albeit still recognising that illicit drug consumption is not necessarily a desirable thing? The Prime Minister's declarations seem to lead to the former, while his Social Policy Minister seems to be at least emphasising the latter. [continues 1253 words]
Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna has challenged the politicians to deny that the decriminalisation of drugs would help the drug barons. Alternattiva Demokratika, which has consistently opposed the criminalisation of people who are in possession of drugs for their own use, would like to take up the challenge. Portugal decriminalised the personal use of all drugs in 2001 and there has been no apocalypse. Far from that. There was no significant increase in the use of drugs since 2001 (actually the increase was less than that of the EU average), drug related crime went down and so did related diseases. [continues 515 words]
Former Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia argued in favour of using cannabis - specifically, synthetic derivatives of the drug - for medical purposes, insisting that its use could be beneficial to patients facing a number of health issues. Dr Farrugia made his call during an adjournment speech yesterday evening. Seemingly aware of the possible controversy his argument may cause, the MP approached the topic cautiously, and made sure to point out that he was not, in any way, endorsing the recreational use of cannabis. [continues 301 words]
Former health minister Godfrey Farrugia is adamant that he had every right to propose the medical use of non-smoked cannabis products or synthetic derivatives, despite Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne's insistence that such requests were not for politicians to make. In comments made to The Malta Independent, the Zebbug family doctor confirmed that the government's parliamentary group had been informed of his intentions before he went public with his proposal in Monday's parliamentary sittings. But Mr. Fearne's reaction, made in comments to the Times of Malta, was that the government would only consider such a proposal if a request was made by industry or a professional body, and insisted that it was not up to politicians to make such a request. [continues 815 words]
While the government has repeatedly stated that it is considering some sort of drug decriminalisation, what it is not saying is which drugs it intends to address in the legislation it is drafting. Contacted this week, Minister for Justice Owen Bonnici would not be drawn into the matter of whether the government intends decriminalising drugs across the board or whether it is considering only certain drugs for its decriminalised list. In fact, all Dr Bonnici had to say on the matter was, "The relative White Paper will be issued in due course." [continues 526 words]
The decriminalisation of drugs for personal use is inevitable if Malta is to continue following the UN's lead, an expert advising Parliament has told The Sunday Times of Malta. "The United Nations has started to shift towards the decriminalisation of drugs and Malta has always followed the UN's position on this issue," former director of the National Forensic Lab Mario Mifsud said. Dr Mifsud said Maltese lawmakers were already moving towards a decriminalisation policy but would eventually be forced to make a choice by the international community. The UN has not yet taken an official stand on the issue but Dr Mifsud said it appeared to be moving towards a softer legal stance on the issue after a number of countries decriminalised drug use. The use of cannabis for personal use has been decriminalised in 16 US states, the most recent one being Colorado, and Washington state is expected to follow suit this year. Uruguay also recently decriminalised the drug. [continues 232 words]
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has hinted at reforming Malta's drug laws in a recent speech. The logic behind making recreational drugs illegal can appear, at first glance, to be simple enough: Drugs are bad for one's health, and legal sanctions prevent people from harming themselves through their use. But it is clear that tough legislation across the world has done little to deter people from using illegal drugs, and calls for an overhaul of drug policies are becoming increasingly vocal in recent years. [continues 1032 words]
I feel a big injustice has been committed against my good friend and co-worker. Seven years ago he was a heroin addict when he was charged with heroin possession and sentenced to a few months in prison. During his time in prison his addiction got worst and after serving his sentence and being released in 2008 he was caught again with possession of four grams of heroin. Since then he has turned his life around and he has been clean for four years. [continues 193 words]
I drive past the imposing, barbed-wired building of the prison in Paola every day. I should stop saying ' prison' really, seeing as for several years now it's been a ' correctional facility'. I quite agree with this turn of phrase, even though it's a mouthful. Corradino is no Norwegian prison - where inmates live in ' pods' and get lessons in respecting neighbours - but at least the intention is that one day it will become less of ' behind the bars' and more of a place for people to adjust their behaviour. [continues 745 words]
Drug users should not be treated as criminals. It was Guido de Marco, former President, who first brought the issue to the public when speaking during a Sedqa activity some years ago. People remember Guido for many things, but this was one of his most noble speeches. At a time when drug addicts were ostracised from society (not that long ago), Prof. de Marco challenged the view of society at the time and encouraged people and the institutions to change their mentality and look at addicts as people that needed help and support. [continues 529 words]
Alternattiva Demokratika has declared that "the war on drugs is a failure" ( February 13) and is therefore advocating the legalisation of cannabis. One of the arguments made by those in favour of legalising this drug is that cannabis is safer than alcohol or cigarettes but with side effects such as memory loss, the body's inability to coordinate properly, anxiety attacks, confusion and the risk of developing lung cancer or nerve damage. Isn't this one drug we can do without? [continues 107 words]
Malta should stop making criminals of people in possession of drugs for their personal use, Demokratika Alternattiva said yesterday. Instead it should follow the "successful model" of Portugal, the Green party said at a press conference. Portugal reclassified drug possession from a criminal to an administrative offence in 2001. It placed great emphasis on drug treatment and prevention services , and encouraged addicts to seek help. AD said the Portuguese model had successfully reduced drug deaths and HIV infection rates. "Education remains a key tool for policies on drugs," said AD chairman Michael Briguglio. [continues 164 words]
David Caruana, 30 of Mellie a, started constitutional proceedings arguing that although he was cultivating two cannabis plants for his personal use, he may be handed a sentence equivalent to what an accused would get if he grew the plant for trafficking. Caruana has been arraigned in the magistrates' court and charged with growing cannabis. He is asking the constitutional court to declare that Maltese legislation is in breach of the European convention on human rights, and to ensure that his rights are protected. [continues 86 words]
A man campaigning to legalise cannabis yesterday took his case to the Constitutional Court, arguing that Malta's failure to distinguish between personal use and trafficking is discriminatory. David Caruana, 30, who in December 2011 held a demonstration as part of his campaign to legalise the drug, has been charged with drug offences after allegedly growing a cannabis plant on a balcony at his home. In a Constitutional application yesterday, Mr Caruana, who works with an online business and studies social sciences at the Open University, is claiming a breach of human rights. [continues 206 words]
Cannabis-Based Medicine 'Offers Relief to Patients Suffering From Multiple Sclerosis and Neurophatic Pains' Maltese patients suffering from intense muscle pain related to ailments like multiple sclerosis (MS) or neurophatic diseases are calling on the Maltese government to approve the importation of a new cannabis based medicine in Malta. Sativex, a cannabis based mouth spray, relieves painful spasticity of the muscles which can make it hard to perform simple tasks like unscrewing the lid from a bottle, has been approved by various EU governments including the United Kingdom, Spain Germany, Denmark and Sweden. [continues 484 words]
Malta is a signatory to the Schengen agreement, which it signed on joining the EU. For anyone who is not familiar with this agreement, it allows for the free movement of EU nationals. It also allows for EU nationals to transport their medicines across borders. Schengen allows medical users of either Sativex (which is cannabis oil in a spray bottle) or Bedrocan to travel to another country that signed the Schengen agreement for up to 90 days. Any person harassed or detained would be looking forward to hefty compensation from that country. [continues 253 words]
A crowd of about 300 people participated in a lively demonstration in Valletta yesterday, organised by the group 'Legalise it, Malta!' which is calling for the decriminalisation, classification and the eventual legalisation of cannabis. The demonstrators, consisting mainly of people in their 20s, walked along Republic Street, chanting "Legalise it, legalise it" and "We're no criminals" to the beat of bongos as they stopped in front of the Law Courts building before proceeding to Palace Square. Reactions from onlookers were varied. While some people looked worried, some simply smiled, while others commented about the negative effects of any drug, irrespective of whether it was cannabis, heroin, ecstasy or anything else. [continues 942 words]
Mothers misusing substances are increasingly becoming a problem in terms of child protection, according to Appogg; agency's children services manager Ruth Sciberras. "It is not only the mother who would be misusing substances that is of concern but if the mother is carrying the child, it is going to have an impact on the unborn," she pointed out. This would mean that, once born, the baby too would suffer from withdrawal symptoms and would have to be put on medication to cope. In situations where an abusing pregnant mother is referred to the agency, it would work with her and support her to receive the necessary treatment from the appropriate agencies. [continues 432 words]
There is a middle ground between drug prohibition and blanket legalisation. Switzerland's heroin maintenance programme has been shown to reduce disease, death and crime among chronic users. Providing addicts with standardised doses in a clinical setting eliminates many of the problems associated with illicit heroin use. The success of the Swiss programme has inspired heroin maintenance pilot projects in Canada, Germany, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands. If expanded, prescription heroin maintenance would deprive organised crime of a core client base. This would render illegal heroin trafficking unprofitable and spare future generations addiction. [continues 161 words]
Rational debates in this country on important subjects that are not party political but affect society profoundly have become an endangered species. If we cannot shout at each other or seek to undermine the other side, it seems we are not interested in talking about anything of substance at all. In recent weeks we have been served up two examples. First the government distanced itself from the common sense call by the Central Bank Governor to means-test student stipends; and now it has shot down a call from a doctor at its own drug and alcohol abuse agency to have an urgent debate on whether drug use should be decriminalised. [continues 475 words]
Malta has the eighth-highest estimated level of problem drug use in the EU, according to the recently published World Drug Report 2010. Compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the report makes reference to several reports including ESPAD and the EMCDDA Statistical Bulletin 2009. Nearly six per 1,000 Maltese in the 15-64 age group are estimated to use drugs. The UK, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Denmark, France, and Portugal surpass Malta, with the highest number of problem drug users, over 10 per 1,000, being in the UK. [continues 1237 words]
Malta has the second-highest number of cocaine-related deaths out of 22 European countries, according to a UN report. The UN's drugs chief said people snorting cocaine in Europe were destroying the "pristine forests" of the Andes and "corrupting governments" in West Africa. The World Drug Report 2010 said cocaine use appeared to be concentrated in Europe in six countries, including Ireland, which was one of three European countries with the greatest increase in drug treatment cases for cocaine since 2002. [continues 352 words]
The Court of Criminal Appeal revoked a judgement by the Court of Magistrates which found a man guilty of importing the drug khat, which had not been illegal at the time of alleged offence. Khalif Id Ahmed was found guilty on 8 May, 2009, and sentenced to a six-month jail term and a,466 fine for importing the drugs cathine and cathinone, in the form of khat, which are leaves that can be chewed for their euphoric effect. Khat is a plant native to East Africa and the Arabian peninsula, and is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite and euphoria. It is a controlled/illegal substance in many countries. [continues 440 words]
A man arrested for ecstasy possession managed to get employed as a supply teacher because a court ban protected his identity A court ban on the publication of the name of an alleged drug trafficker left education authorities in the dark over who they were employing as a teacher in 2007. The education division was unaware that Simon Linton Sancto, a graduate they had employed in 2003 and again in 2007 to work as a supply teacher, had been arrested for drug trafficking in 2005, because his name was banned from publication by court order. [continues 581 words]
Cocaine Use Reaches Record Levels in Europe Opioids use in Malta is relatively high with 5.8-6.7 cases per 1,000 among people aged between 15 and 64, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) said in its 2007 report. However, heroin and injected drugs have become less common in Europe while the use of cannabis is stabilising after a sustained period of growth, the agency said. "Nevertheless, positive messages are marred by high levels of drug-related deaths and rising cocaine use," said the EMCDDA, which estimates there are up to 8,000 overdose deaths every year - mostly linked to the consumption of opiates like heroin. [continues 322 words]
Sedqa agency is launching two main campaigns for this summer aimed at raising awareness about alcohol and drugs respectively. The alcohol awareness campaign is a continuation of previous summer campaigns and its aim is to increase consciousness about the issue of excessive alcohol consumption, especially among young people. The drug awareness campaign will aim at making young people aware of the very possible dangerous outcomes of drug abuse, especially when mixed with alcohol or other drugs. The target audience for this campaign includes young adults who visit entertainment venues and who may be at risk of experimenting with drugs within that setting. [continues 81 words]
The Family and Social Solidarity Ministry, in a message marking the International Day Against Abuse and Illegal Trafficking of Drugs, said that drugs were a problem that affected all society and everyone should be urged to reflect on this. This year, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime launched an anti-drugs campaign that will run for three years under the theme Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs. The ministry said this was a very positive message that could be applied to the country. Drugs affected all communities and it was the government's policy to strengthen social services. [continues 131 words]
Although a vaccine for cocaine addiction has been discovered, as with every scientific discovery it is now up to society to choose whether to make use of it or not, said Professor Richard Muscat. Prof. Muscat, Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Malta was commissioned by the Pompidou Group to write a paper discussing the implications of the TA-CD vaccine. The Pompidou Group is an inter-government body formed in 1971 that studies and compares drug use trends in Europe and was instrumental in setting up the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD Report). [continues 614 words]
Malta remains among the most expensive countries when it comes to the purchase of illicit drugs even if prices on Europe's streets become cheaper than ever before, according to a new report. The report, by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, shows that the average retail price for cannabis grass, LSD and amphetamines in Malta remains the highest in Europe when compared to its counterparts. Launched at the European Parliament yesterday, the annual report on The State Of The Drugs Problem In Europe is based on data from the 25 EU member states and Norway and, where available, from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. [continues 808 words]
Regarding the June 26 editorial, The Times must not make the mistake of assuming that the drug war actually reduces drug use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. Here in the United States, police searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools and random drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties, while failing miserably at preventing drug use. The drug war is in large part a war on marijuana (hashish), by far the most popular illicit drug. The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future survey reports that lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the US than in any European country, yet America is one of the few Western countries that uses its criminal justice system to punish citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. [continues 82 words]
In view of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Monday, Fiona Galea Debono mingles with heroin addicts, who are struggling to keep clean, while delving into the "serious" problem of substance abuse Malta is facing in a world governed by instant gratification. There is an air of serenity on entering San Blas, the secluded residential drug rehabilitation centre, located in the countryside. The birds are singing and the plants in the driveway are pruned and thriving. It is an unexpectedly good vibe. [continues 2511 words]
Today is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. What are we going to do about it? That "we" embraces the whole of society, from the law enforcers to the drug pushers and the drug abusers, to parents and their friends, their teachers, their employers, the owners of sleazy bars and squeaky-clean establishments or hotels where transactions are made, where at some momentous times in their lives, youngsters or their elders take the horrendous decision to "try one, to see how it feels". [continues 515 words]
The 2005 national report on drug abuse used 2004 as its basis year and was published last week. This suggests an unfortunate - one may even call it an unacceptable - lag between the basis year and the year of assessment 18 months later. Data collection demands a greater sense of urgency. There can be no valid reason why data for 2004 should not be collated by the first quarter of 2005 and the report put together by mid-2005 for a national drug policy to be formulated within three months of that. [continues 479 words]
Should Recreational Drug Users Face Penalties, And Does Their Criminalisation Solve Anything? No one should be put into prison for taking a drug. He/she usually has enough problems. The laws prohibiting the use of drugs are cruel, do not achieve the proposed aims and cause more problems than they solve. I believe they will be removed eventually. Drugs are defined as "any substance that can be used to modify a chemical process or processes in the body, for example to treat an illness, relieve a symptom, enhance a performance or ability, or to alter states of mind". Heroin, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, coffee and tobacco are all drugs. Before you think "alcohol, tobacco and coffee are not drugs", consider the following: every year in the USA 300,000 people die due to smoking of tobacco. 150,000 die because of alcohol. [continues 948 words]
Heroin was used in 95 per cent of fatal overdoses from illicit drugs that took place in Malta between 1999 and 2003, Anna Girard, head of the national focal point for drugs and drug addiction, said. In the five-year period under review, 31 fatal overdoses took place, with 27 of the victims being male. The mean age of victims was 32 years. Ms Girard said that in the same timeframe there were nine fatal overdoses from non-illicit drugs. Four of the victims were aged between 25 and 34 years while five were over the age of 45. [continues 995 words]
The news is that the local consumption of ecstasy by the young is down. That is something positive. It is, at least, a note on which to rejoice a little, but not too much. For in other things, Maltese youth race ahead of many other nationalities. Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina had sombre reflections to make on the results of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (Espad), held last year among 16-year-olds in 35 countries. [continues 510 words]
One of the biggest problems faced by governments is drug addiction and the crime it brings with it. The tactics used by the US and many European governments to tackle this problem are similar to those used in military battles and is based on prohibition. Unfortunately, prohibition does not seem to be improving the situation. Former Interpol chief Raymond Kendall has admitted that drug prohibition has failed - in fact he claimed that it has made things worse. In an article in French newspaper Le Monde, Kendall declared the war on drugs lost and said that enforcement policies had failed to protect the world from drugs. The only effective solution was "harm reduction". In 2008, the UN drug conventions policy renewal will take place and Kendall called for Europe to take the lead in a reform policy that has never been seen before. [continues 390 words]
A 17-year-old boy who confessed to trafficking in heroin and expressed a will to attend a rehabilitation programme was yesterday fined Lm25 as a magistrate, regretfully, explained that although probation would have been ideal the law did not allow it. After hearing a probation officer recommend that the teenager (whose name is not being published as he is a minor) be placed on probation, Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera explained that the Dangerous Drug Ordinance did not allow probation on trafficking charges. [continues 386 words]
TEACHERS had the critical role of imparting information and educating students about making the right choices and learning to deal with peer pressure in avoiding addictions, Education Minister Louis Galea said. Speaking during a Sedqa presentation of addictions prevention material to be used in schools during this scholastic year, the minister said that European surveys of 16-year-olds were showing a lower rate of drug abuse by Maltese youths compared to their European counterparts. This, the minister said, had to be a direct effect of the investment in prevention work that had been going on for many years. [continues 304 words]
Sedqa, the national agency against drug and alcohol abuse, is present at the G.F. Abela Junior College throughout Freshers' Week, taking place until October 15. It said it aimed to deliver its message against substance misuse during the event by means of an outreach with students, involving the presence of staff from the Sedqa prevention teams and the dissemination of printed material with information about the effects of drugs and alcohol and the perils of substance misuse. Sedqa appealed to students attending the Junior College to visit its stand in the foyer, where they can meet its staff and get the information they need. For more information about Sedqa's prevention programmes one can contact the primary prevention team on 21 244 226. Sedqa also offers care services both within the community and in residential settings. People requiring help regarding problems related to substance abuse can be referred, refer themselves to these services or access more information by calling Helpline 151 or by visiting the agency's website. [end]
Over 20 Armed Forces of Malta personnel have been discharged from the army over the past nine years after testing positive to drug use. The last instance of drug-related discharges from the army occurred just three weeks ago when two soldiers were sacked after drugs tests proved positive. "This is a serious matter over which there can be no compromise. The army is entrusted with fighting drug trafficking and cannot afford to allow such elements within it," Lt Col Mario Schembri, who is in charge of the army's public relations, told The Times when contacted yesterday. [continues 592 words]
The Employment and Training Corporation found employment for 20 former drug users in 2002/2003, compared with 24 in 2001/2 and 15 in 2000/01. In addition, it also trained 83 people who had followed Caritas drug rehabilitation programmes (101 in 2002 and 37 in 2000). The corporation has a Supported Employment Division, specifically set up to help special cases, who include former prison inmates, former substance abusers, and social cases. Its staff have all received intensive training in Sweden by its Swedish counterpart, the Swedish National Labour Market Board. [continues 503 words]
Opposition Spokesman for Internal Affairs Gavin Gulia accepted Social Affairs Permanent Committee Chairman Clyde Puli's invitation to attend a meeting regarding the drug law, but said a meeting is needed with all entities connected to the sector for a public, transparent discussion. In a letter to Mr Gulia, Clyde Puli said he is ready to suspend the agenda of the meeting planned for 5 July to discuss the material to be presented by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg regarding the finalised report on the drug law. [continues 179 words]
The police are holding two men for questioning following the discovery of 285 cannabis plants in two separate raids on two private residences in Zejtun yesterday. This is believed to be the largest haul of cannabis plants in one day in Malta. The police drugs squad first raided an old residence in Santa Marija Street at daybreak. The occupant, a 42-year-old man from Zejtun, who lives on his own, was arrested and is expected to be charged in court soon. [continues 349 words]
Curiously, never has there been a piece of legislation which was subject to as many amendments over the years as our Drug Ordinance and rightly so too. Public law evolves according to the social exigencies of the moment. There was a time when narcotic abuse was hardly a problem at all in this country. Naturally, therefore, our drugs legislation, which dates back to the turn of the last century, was extremely mild and clearly ineffective to cater for the problem that would soon scourge our community from the early 1980s onwards. [continues 533 words]
Inside Malta
