The government has dismissed a proposal by one of its senior substance abuse professionals for drug use to be decriminalised.

In a concise reaction to the idea floated by Sedqa clinical director George Grech, a spokesman for the Justice Ministry said “the decriminalisation of drug use in Malta is not on the table”.

Dr Grech proposed a debate on the subject at a seminar on substance abuse last week, insisting that treating drug use as a crime and not a condition to be cured was counterproductive. Prison, he added, did not cure addicts.

Moreover, he argued there was an element of urgency for such a policy because the prisons – were drugs are known to be available – were suffering from overcrowding.

He pointed out that decriminalisation would only apply for drug use and not trafficking, which, he said, was a “whole different kettle of fish”.

But the ministry poured cold water on the idea although the spokesman added: “This does not mean, however, the ministry is not open to the possibility of introducing other changes to the relevant laws.”

Asked why the ministry was not open to discussing the topic, especially in view of the Portuguese experience, where the system was proven to be effective, the spokesman said the ministry had nothing to add to the reply.

It also declined to comment on what the “other changes” could be.

When contacted, Dr Grech said he was not trying to impose an ideology but had only suggested that a discussion should take place.

“What I proposed was based on the reality of the situation, which is that prison doesn’t solve the problem, it only makes it worse,” he said.

He said the government’s drug commission had, a few years back, proposed the setting up of a Drugs Court, the function of which, up to a point, was fulfilled by then Magistrate Lawrence Quintano, who presided over most drugs-related cases. However, since being appointed judge in July, a vacuum has been created in this area.

In his inaugural speech as a judge earlier this year, Dr Quintano said that, rather than condemning young people who fell prey to the drug problem, “we should be trying to understand them to make sure they are put back on track”.

Mr Justice Quintano said it was useless sending people to prison if they could not be helped and stressed that rehabilitation did not consist of giving drug users methadone to overcome the problem but, rather, a reason to live.

Dr Grech does not believe an amendment to the law is a magic solution: “Whatever you do, it’s not going to solve the problem but it might manage it better.”