Myanmar can reduce its prison population in half in one stroke. If it chooses to. Decarceration is a logical move now that the national drug policy endorses decriminalisation.

There is nothing in this article about treatment for drug use disorder in prisons or HIV and hepatitis C prevalence.

Jamie

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48pc of prisoners linked to narcotic drugs
Myo Min Htet
Eleven
Wed, 02/28/2018 - 16:09

The total number of prisoners in Myanmar has reached between 60,000 and 80,000. About 48 per cent of them are serving prison terms due to the use of a narcotic drug, or other drug-related reasons, according to the new National Drug Control Policy.

About 70 to 80 per cent of prisoners in Myitkyina and Lashio are drug users. This may cause a heavy burden to finance and management of prisons, the new policy says.

The sentencing of drug users may cause a burden to the criminal justice system and have health and social impacts on drug users, their families and communities.

The National Narcotic Drug Control Policy was issued in February this year.

The government reviewed the existing drug control policies and created a new policy suited to Myanmar citizens in coordination with international experience.

The objective of new policy is to build a secure and healthy community by reducing health, social and economic risks caused by narcotic drugs, to the lowest level.

On February 14, the President signed into the law amending the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law which will punish drug users with social penalties.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/13506