Bishop urges society to trust, help recovered drug addicts
The Bishop of Gozo has warned that unless society helped rehabilitated drug addicts to integrate, it would risk being the one to push such people back to drugs.
Speaking at the end of a drug rehabilitation programme organised by the Oasi Foundation for a number of former addicts, Mgr Mario Grech insisted that society needed to do all it could to ensure that these people did not become victims of drugs once more.
Drug pushers were like vultures over these people because of their perceived weakness, he said.
He therefore wished to appeal to the public and private sectors to offer jobs to rehabilitated former drug addicts at the end of their programme. A society which failed to destroy the market for drugs had a duty to at least come up with measures for the social reintegration of its victims.
Mgr Grech called for a greater sense of confidence in these people, so that they would not be sidelined once more. The fact that they made a mistake once did not mean they could not lead a normal life.
On the other hand, victims of drugs should also assume responsibility for their actions and be worthy of trust, Mgr Grech said.
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Jesmond Micallef
Nov 30th 2009, 23:00
I am in complete agreement with N. Falzon.
Questions:
1) Why is there a "market" for the need of such substances ??
1a) Why do people want them ??
2) Why is there a "market" to sell such substances ??
2a) Is "drugmoney", easy made money ??
N.Falzon
Nov 30th 2009, 14:28
'A society which failed to destroy the market for drugs had a duty to at least come up with measures for the social reintegration of its victims.'
A very valid point which is seen by religious people and not the people who need to take action....THE POLITICIANS!!! The War on Drugs will never be won like everywhere else in the world. Education, re habilitation and re integration is the key!!!
renald williams
Nov 30th 2009, 14:26
We all do mistakes John 8:7; Romans 3:4-23, 5:12; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 1:8-10, 5:19 www.tecmalta.org
Oscar Cassar
Nov 30th 2009, 14:00
I was wondering why the Bishop of Gozo has warned society to help only rehabilitated drug addicts to integrate and not for example others with various social problems like for example separated couples also to integrate within society. After yesterdays mass (in Malta) I was the impression that such are practically doomed within society.