Punishment Does Not Cure Drug Addiction!

PUNISHMENT DOES NOT CURE DRUG ADDICTION! Which uniform do you wear? Punishment oriented drug policy increases harm Injecting drug use (2009, 2012) 59% Current drug policy en- 43% courages people to use more dangerous 36% 36% 31% drugs 22% 13% 0% 2009 2012 2009 2012 2009 2012 2009 2012 Jeff Vint Subutex Heroine Krokodile Source: Curatio International Foundation Less dangerous / More dangerous Krokodile use increased even more in 2013. It is the most used drug in Georgia now. 72% Why? 71% Traditional drugs are either not available 42% or too expensive 2012 2013 It is extremely cheap and easily available Georgian Harm Reduction Network, Background characteristics of the clients of needle exchange Does not require engaging in the illicit drug market – low risk of being arrested programs In addition to the effects of heroine and subutex, home made drugs cause: Krokodile Thrombosis of Embolism Systematic use damages the body which might cause death in a few years Skin damage, Quick addiction gangrene vessels and arrosive (air pockets on vessels which bleedings can cause death) Jeff Vint Physical disability Psychosis Increased Hallucinations Neurological damage agression To avoid imprisonment of fines, marijuana drug users switched to using Bio, which could not be tested until the summer 2013 Bio Respiratory illnesses and cancers Disorientation and Quick addiction Much more toxic Causes psychosis more often than marijuana memory damage than marijuana So far, 9 types of Bio can be tested and are prohibited, but there are 600 more ... x5 Can be tested Cannot be tested Prescription drug abuse is increasing Prescription drug abuse Taking medicines without prescription or combining medicines to get high. This cannot be detected with drug tests. Psychosis Coma Seizure Current drug policy brings more harm than benefit. This should change! Georgia needs more effective, treatment oriented drug policy! Source: Curatio International Foundation, Injecting Drug Users GHr N ALTERNATIVE Behavioural Surveillance Survey, 2013 GEORGIA hies e raora aaen Public Union Bemoni GEORGIAN HARM REDICTION NETWORK Interview with narcologist Nika Kapanadze, 2013 Georgian Harm Reduction Network The visualization is created within the framework of Drug Policy Liberalization Campaign www.thenounproject.com JumpStartCe