Decriminalization of Armenian Drug Users

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on a story published by Armenia Now on plans to decriminalize drug use in Armenia. If passed, drug users will be fined instead of imprisoned. Unzipped welcomes the proposed amendment to the criminal code albeit with some reservations.

I principally welcome any move which would lead to decriminalisation of drug users in Armenia. Indeed, as agreed by most experts and medical profession, drug using should not be considered a crime but rather a condition which needs to be treated and tackled via social means (social marketing, public awareness/education campaigns and so on).

However, to impose such hefty fines on drug users not only will do little to solve the problem but may potentially turn things worse, as mentioned in ArmeniaNow report too. Knowing our realities, it would most certainly lead to increase in corruption and bribery when ‘caught’ drug users would prefer paying much smaller bribes to avoid being tried for, even if for a “civil crime” (exactly the way that most of them do now to avoid criminal proceedings).