Victim Support Malta releases position paper on drug law refom

Victim Support Malta, a founding member of the Platform for Human Rights Organizations in Malta, has released a paper detailing its position on the government's proposed reform to local drug laws.

It welcomes the government's efforts to address the issue and goes on to make several recommendations in terms of the scope and discourse used in the White Paper.

"In various instances and throughout the White Paper, drug users are described as “victims” who are “constrained” to engage in substance use by some seemingly uncontrollable mechanism and consequently sustain their habit through whatever means possible since this behaviour is beyond their control," the paper reads.

This perpetuates the idea that drug users have no agency and responsiiliby in controlling their addiction or seeking support, thus leading users to believe they suffer from an illness they can do nothing about. The focus, it continues, should also be on addressing the impact of drugs on the community.

The paper goes on to outline different facets of drug use that must be taken into consideration. The economic, behavioural and criminal implications of drug use need to be dealt with appropriately and prevention also needs to be a priority.

Finally, the paper recommends ongoing monitoring and impact assessment of the newly introduced measures in order to identify areas for changes or improvements.