The Eurasian
Harm Reduction Network (EHRN) publication “A war against people who use drugs:
the costs” recommends to governments to undertake a comprehensive drug policy
assessment of benefits and costs related to implementation of policies aimed to
combat drug use and drug trafficking by applying 3 rules.
Rule1:
evaluate whether measures implemented reach goals and targets stated in their
national legislation and international human rights treaties.
To simplify
this means that, for example, if country x is committed to achieving the MDG6,
which seeks to halt by 2015 and begin to reverse the spread of HIV, and if new
HIV incidents are increasing in country x, we may have doubts about
effectiveness and adequacy of measures implemented to reach this target.
Rule2:
provide detailed analysis of budgetary expenses directly and indirectly related
to implementation of drug policies.
For example,
Georgia implements a random drug testing on the streets. Direct costs of such a
measure would include personnel costs and tools required to do such testing.
Indirect costs would be considered such costs as prison expenses that result
from implementation of such measure (as people with positive results are imprisoned)
or healthcare costs (prison settings are considered to be an environment of
increased health-risk).
Rule3:
Analyse economic and social effects of such policies, including but not limited
to well-being, morbidity and mortality in affected communities and in the
general population, as well as in respect to the human rights and social
integration of people who use drugs.
For example,
until recently the HIV infection rate among drug users in Estonia was 50 per
cent, while 1,3 per cent in the general population. Such drastic difference
between the HIV infection rates among drug users and the general population,
would mean that the implemented policies affecting drug users in Estonia have
tremendous social effects.
