Published on August 3, 2012 at 1:57 AM
Malinowska-Sempruch quotes a recent report by the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which stated, "Throughout the world, research has consistently shown that repressive drug law enforcement practices force drug users away from public health services and into hidden environments where HIV risk becomes markedly elevated," and writes that the epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia cannot be reversed without a change in drug policy. "This lesson has been painfully experienced in many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which should serve as cautionary tales for all of Europe's leaders -- especially in this critical time of austerity," she adds, provides examples, and concludes, "It is hoped that as the E.U. produces its own drug strategy it listens to its better angels and heeds the positive lessons of its recent history" (7/31).
 This article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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