Malta's first National Drugs Policy

A milestone in the fight against drugs is reached today with the launch of the National Drugs Policy, a first for Malta. This document, still in draft stage and open to public consultation, targets all involved in this sphere, whether they be government entities, voluntary organisations or individuals.

The policy's main purpose is to present a holistic and streamlined vision that will surely do much to ensure a more efficient and effective response to the drugs problem.

This scourge to society requires integrated solutions and coordinated delivery of services involving education, health and social care, intelligence gathering and law enforcement.

Legislation and policies have to take into account all these aspects and bring them together in coherent and consistent propositions.

Drug services on the island started almost a quarter of a century ago. As in so many social areas, the Church was at the forefront of this provision. While a great deal remains to be done, it is fair to say that we have come a long way since then.

Parallel with the launch of the National Drugs Policy today, we are presenting the third annual report of the state of the drug problem in Malta and the responses in place to tackle this problem.

An important aspect of our progress in this sphere, therefore, can be seen in terms of a better understanding of the nature of the problem as well as realistic means of appraisal through the use of appropriate methodology.

It goes without saying that drug abuse negatively affects not only the user but that person's family and significant others, as well as society as a whole.

Drug abuse is the very antithesis of what this government is working to achieve in terms of social cohesion, social inclusion, and social well-being.

It is within this framework, therefore, that this first National Drugs Policy is grounded, providing for a coordinated effort to reduce drug use, to help those who have started abusing drugs and to provide better treatment services for those who have succumbed to drug addiction.

This policy is thus, primarily directed towards service providers and has a two-pronged objective: It aims to improve the quality of and, where necessary, increase the provision of drug-related services, and to provide for a more coordinated mechanism through which the supply and demand for drugs are appropriately reduced as much as possible in the best interest of society. The document itself is very detailed and attempts to tackle all aspects related to the consumption of drugs, from reducing supply and demand, to the legal and judicial framework, to anchoring Malta within an international perspective.

This is certainly not the place to describe the whole document, a copy of which is available for anyone who wishes to consult it.

I would like, however, to elaborate on a couple of points I feel are crucial to the essence of the document and to the effective implementation of the policy outlined.

In the first place, the document suggests the setting up of certain pivotal entities for the correct and effective implementation of the National Drugs Policy, namely: A National Coordinating Unit For Drugs And Alcohol within the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity, to ensure that this policy is implemented and monitored in the correct manner; a Drugs Court to streamline drug offence cases; a National Law Enforcement Body to strengthen cooperation between the law enforcement bodies in their daily work to reduce street availability; and a Central Intake Unit to consolidate efforts aimed at treating those who use drugs and others addicted to drugs.

Another point of interest in the document is the proposal for the allocation of additional funds to drug-related programmes and initiatives by supplementing current funding provisions with monies derived from assets confiscated under The Prevention Of Money Laundering Act in relation to drug-related offences.

Public discussion of drug issues has mainly taken place on TV, radio, and in newspapers. I hope that public consultation on this document will provide for a structured and more informed approach to the debate, enabling our country to continue along the road of progress began so many years ago.

Ms Cristina is Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity.