![[Out of the Shadows] Drug habit is sickness, not ethical failing, consultants say](https://i0.wp.com/res.heraldm.com/content/image/2024/11/19/20241119050036_0.jpg?w=860&resize=860,0&ssl=1 "[Out of the Shadows] Drug habit is sickness, not ethical failing, consultants say")
Drug habit is a thorny public well being concern in South Korea that must be seen as an sickness moderately than an ethical failing, based on consultants, calling for a extra supportive setting that helps these rebuilding their lives from substance use dysfunction.
Referring to drug habit as a “power illness,” Kwak Younger-sook, the president of the Nationwide Heart for Psychological Well being, careworn that drug-related points are a rising public well being problem that impacts the whole group.
“Drug habit requires long-term care and administration as a result of it is not a private failing. Offering applicable remedy and rehabilitation for folks of all ages is crucial for successfully addressing habit issues on a societal degree,” she stated in her opening remarks at a current discussion board on drug habit.
The sixth version of the NCMH’s symposium on the remedy, rehabilitation and prevention of drug habit was held on Friday afternoon on the establishment’s headquarters, co-organized by the Korean Academy of Psychiatry and the Legislation. The occasion introduced collectively famend consultants and authorities officers to debate how society ought to deal with the menace of drug habit to construct a more healthy group.
“In that vein, the NCMH has been paying larger consideration to drug habit, and we held a drug-related discussion board for youngsters in December final 12 months. This 12 months the middle was additionally designated because the regional remedy and safety establishment for drug habit by the Well being Ministry,” the president famous.
Cho Sung-nam, who heads the KAPL, concurred that society performs an enormous half in stopping drug use and serving to addicts recuperate, including that the general public ought to perceive drug habit as a illness.
“Identical to another sickness, nobody needs to undergo from drug habit, however they’ll fall into it anytime. It is like an infectious illness that may have an effect on extra folks over time.”
“Nonetheless, folks usually query why public assets must be spent on people battling drug habit, pondering it is a private downside. However they need to know that that is meant to guard folks from medication and create a safer society,” Cho underscored.
“Now’s the ‘golden time’ for Korea to take motion towards medication earlier than we develop into like California within the US, for instance, the place residents are transferring to different cities because of hovering drug use,” Cho careworn.
Physician-turned-lawmaker Rep. Han Zee-a of the ruling Folks Energy Get together referred to as for a shift in public notion and societal attitudes towards drug habit.
“Our society tends to view drug habit as against the law dedicated by criminals, not a illness that wants remedy. However this should change. Habit has develop into a illness that wants remedy and an sickness that may have an effect on our households, pals and neighbors,” Rep. Han stated in a pre-recorded video, vowing efforts to resolve drug habit points as a member of the Nationwide Meeting’s Well being and Welfare Committee.
The general public, nonetheless, seems reluctant to vary its perspective towards medication. Eight in 10 Koreans maintain adverse perceptions about drug customers, believing they lack ethical values and lead promiscuous lives, based on a survey on medication carried out by Analysis Korea Co. in March final 12 months. The ballot was carried out on 1,000 folks aged above 18.
Talking on the prosecution’s function in treating drug addicts, Yoon Shin-myung, a researcher on the Supreme Prosecutors’ Workplace’s Narcotics and Organized Crimes Division, stated the federal government wants to supply adequate assets and infrastructure.
“Drug crimes are presently hovering in Korea, and it is almost unattainable to ban the inflow of medication into the nation, so the prosecution has acknowledged that tackling drug habit requires ample remedy and rehabilitation moderately than repeated punishment for offenders who relapse,” stated Yoon, a prosecutor who has been working in narcotics for a decade.
A file excessive of 27,611 folks have been apprehended for drug-related offenses final 12 months, surpassing the 20,000 mark for the primary time, with a selected improve amongst younger folks, based on the annual drug crime report compiled by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Workplace in June this 12 months. In 2022, the corresponding determine was 18,395.
In terms of sentencing, Article 61 of the Narcotics Management Act stipulates that an individual who makes use of psychotropic substances or hashish can sentenced to as much as 5 years in jail or a wonderful of as much as 50 million received ($35,909).
“Nonetheless, the prosecution is primarily centered on its function as an investigative physique and faces challenges in assessing the extent of 1’s drug habit throughout the investigation course of. Additionally, the prosecution doesn’t have entry to particular packages or assets to supply remedy or rehabilitation for addicts,” Yoon identified.
Highlighting the necessity for extra rehab packages that would present a path to therapeutic for addicts, Kim Younger-hwan, who heads the Korea Addicts Proper Heart, identified that an impediment to creating drug remedy facilities is the opposition they face from close by residents.
“There are usually not many drug rehab facilities in Korea, contemplating the variety of drug offenders we’ve. However do not we’ve to assist drug addicts eager to return to society? If we abandon them, who will carry them again?” famous Kim, a former addict who used medication for about twenty years.
“Probably the most pressing matter to deal with proper now could be the dearth of public consciousness and understanding about drug habit rehab services. These are usually not locations that hurt society, however moderately are locations that give addicts the chance to rebuild their lives and develop into members of society.”
The Korea Herald is operating a collection of characteristic tales and interviews on the evolution and rise of drug crimes, inadequate help programs and younger addicts’ tales in South Korea. That is the thirteenth installment. — Ed.
