GERMANY
"Ecstasy cannot replace the school sandwich!" the representative of an association called "Formation and Education" warns the community about chemical drugs (stimulants) at the beginning of the school year, because he recognizes that youths 14 to 16 are tempted by these substances. According to a recent survey 88% of the questioned guys thought that MDMA was legal, 85% considered it harmless.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, 04/10)
GERMANY
Representative of the parliamentary opposition and the responsible of the FDP for drug-related questions have asked the Government to change its prohibitionst approach and authorize the distribution of heroin to serious cases of drug addiction. The responsible for the Government, Eduard Linter (CDU), rejects the Swiss model.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 04/10)
GERMANY
Bavaria - The City Council of Munich wants to establish some street centers for the drug-addicts, but the CSU prefers the Scandinavian model of forced rehabilitation. Maybe CSU forgets that Scandinavian results have been so discouraging that the Government has downsized the whole experiment. Finland's 1993 surveys show that only ten people were assigned to rehab programs; in Norway not even half a dozen; Denmark has given up.
(DER SPIEGEL, 06/10)
VATICAN
The Secretary of State, Bishop Sodano, has called for a new powerful approach to the drug problem, because "drugs are one of the most serious problems of the civil society for the number of victims, the families that suffer and for the youths killed at an early age".
(CORSERA, LA REPUBBLICA, 10/10)
ITALY
The report on drug-addiction issued by the Ministry of Solidarity says that in 1996, 1,394 people died for drugs, it is the highest figure of the decade. The majority of the victims are men between 30 and 40 that live in cities. Rome is the capitol of this tragedy with 159 victims, followed by Milan with 102. The consumption is stable but is moving from heroin and cocaine to stimulants, 45% of the consumers are over 30.
(PANORAMA, 16/10)
GERMANY
The results of the Frankfurt experience of the glass-houses where free heroin can be injected in privacy has been recently presented. The police say that there has been a drop in crime. German and Italian addicts are among the clients of the center. The project was promoted by the Green MEP, Daniel Cohen Bendit.
(LA STAMPA, 10/10)
EU
Hearing for the Italian priest Luigi Ciotti at the Civil Liberty Committee. Mr.
Ciotti, the coordinator of "Libera" an anti-Mafia association, said that "the drug market is newer and bigger and has't been affected. There is the need to make the civil society grow and to educate the public to legality'.
(LA STAMPA, 10/10)
PORTUGAL
The Minister for Health has confirmed the establishment of a special methadone program for the pharmacies of Lisbon; the substance will be delivered to heroin addicts that will join rehab projects monitored by physicians. The initiative that follows the positive results of the Netherlands and Great Britain aims at the reduction of the number of drug-addicts, criminals and contagious diseases.
(EL PAIS, 07/10)
FRANCE
The Appeal Court of Paris has allowed the reopening of discos previously closed for drugs. Nobody was able to demonstrate their involvement on the matter.
(LE MONDE, 08/10)
SPAIN
Almost half of the 100,000 heroin addicts are treated with methadone. In 1994 they were 18,000, in 1996 44,000. The average age of the patients is around 30, and they are victims of the Spanish heroin boom of 1970s. The program also prevents them from HIV/AIDS. In 1996 64% of the male infections and 59% of the female ones were drug-related(EL PAIS, 03/10).
FRANCE
Secretary of State for Health, Mr. Bernard Kouchner has recently written in an article for the Nouvelle Observateur that the law on narcotics of 1970 "is not adequate for the actual situation. Drug addicts are not criminals, but sick persons, addiction is a public health problem that needs education, prevention and the reduction of harms". He also added that these serious problems deserve a profound debate."
(LE FIGARO, 02/10, LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR, 08/10)
ITALY
At the Anti-drug international Summit, held at the Rehabilitation center of San Patrignano in central Italy, organized by the Rainbow association, participants have discovered that chemical drugs have invaded the market targeting youths; UNDCP Undersecretary-General Pino Arlacchi has said that the Golden Triangle no longer exists and that governments should change their strategies.
(IL MESSAGGERO, 03/10, CORSERA, LA STAMPA, 03-04/10)
GREAT BRITAIN
Tony Blair has chosen the British new anti-drug czar, Kenneth Hellawell, 55, chief of the West Yorkshire police. Mr. Hellawell has publicly replied to the growing demand of legalization that is coming from distinguished British personalities like Lord Bingham of Cornhill, declaring that he believes that drug depenalization is an option that will not work. Mr. Hellawell, has not yet officially appointed.
(THE TIMES, 09-10/10)
GREAT BRITAIN
According to the Home Office, there is an increase in the use of drugs among teenagers living in rural areas. Youths aged 14 inject whisky and vodka in order to get quickly drunk putting their lives at risk.
(THE TIMES, 05/10)
US
The drug czar told a Colombian newspaper that Washington is prepared to help Bogota' fight leftist rebels because their insurgency is driven by profits from narcotics enterprises. The US appears increasingly concerned at rebel strength in a surge of fighting with government forces.
(WSJ 13/10)
FRANCE
For the first time the French Curia has stated its position on drugs. Bishops reject the fake alternative between repression and liberalization: "the consumption of narcotics is a social problem, and it is a mistake to leave it to politicians and the judiciary" they said.
(LE MONDE, 15/10)
GREAT BRITAIN
80% of the English people is in favor of the depenalization of hashish consumption for medical reasons. This is the final result of a campaign started in September by the "Independent" supported by various personalities of medicine, culture, politics among which the writer Martin Amis, the playwright Harold Piner and ex-Beatles Paul Mc Cartney.
(EL PAIS 13/10)
GREAT BRITAIN
The "Alliance for cannabis therapeutics" has launched and ad campaign in support of medical marijuana. The substance use is suggested for treatments regarding cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis.
(CORSERA 14/10)
AUSTRIA
The Liberal Forum favors the decriminalization of soft drugs. Production, possession and consumption of cannabis should not be prohibited. Cannabis dealers should not be prosecuted. The Liberals' spokesperson for Health matters calls for a controlled distribution model similar to the Swiss one.
(DIE PRESSE, 10/10)
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