Two scholars have suggested that authorities improve rehabilitation services and implement appropriate treatment options for drug addicts, recommending policy centered on treatment, rather than imprisonment. The scholars said that drug abuse in Macau is comparatively low, at 2 percent of the population, but that it remains one of the most critical social concerns.
The government’s plans to increase penalties for those caught using drugs have raised some concerns among citizens. Macau currently has lenient penalties for drug users, whereby the maximum prison term for those found using drugs is three months.
But scholars believe that heavier penalties are ineffective when it comes to encouraging people to reduce or abstain from drug consumption.
“The evidence suggests that heavier penalties don’t make a difference. If you want to change people’s behavior, certainly a penalty can make a difference but again the evidence suggests that in the longer-term a penalty […] is unlikely to achieve benefit,” Stuart Kinner, a scholar at the Griffith Criminology Institute, told TDM.
He added that drug users who are incarcerated, for “even a short period,” face an increased risk of re-offending once released. Kinner says that other effects of incarcerating drug users could include an increased risk of death from overdose and an escalation in risky behaviors such as sharing injecting equipment.
Spencer De Li, President of the Asian Association for Substance Abuse Research, believes that young people, who are more prone to recreational drug use, should be treated as patients, rather than criminals. He said that imprisoning drug users is not the best solution for preventing drug abuse.
“Young people use drugs on an experimental basis. They are not what we call the drug addicts, at least not yet. For those people, we should treat them as a patient. Young people have problems and we should try to help them recover from drug abuse,” said Li, before adding that, “it may not be appropriate to treat them as people who commit illegal acts, in other words, criminals.”
IAS discovers unlicensed nursery
During an inspection carried out by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) in a pre-school education center, it was discovered that the establishment was in fact operating as a nursery, despite not having the proper license. As a result, the bureau has given the center a fine.
In a statement issued last Friday, the IAS reminded all facilities of this nature that they must acquire a valid license prior to commencing such operations. According to the statement, the operation included several surprise-inspections carried out by the IAS between August 6 and September 2 at the “Cenoura” Pre-school Education Center, located in the northern district of the peninsula.
According to the law, all facilities providing social support activities for children, youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities must request and obtain a license prior to commencing operations. If not fully or partially observed, this law and its regulations require that the offending establishment incur a fine of between MOP3,000 and MOP20,000. In addition, the offender can be called to assume civil or criminal liability. RM
Good article and good points. Penalties should be levied on the dealers and the distributors. User should have easy access to help. ARTM in Macau is the best option for English and Portuguese speaking people seeking help.
In Macau the population fear repercussions from police if they report a dealer. Many western countries offer anonymous reporting to police of dealers. Is this worth advertising as an option for our police?