Sikkim Drug Users Forum Demands Shift to Health-Based Policy

Gangtok: The Sikkim Drug Users' Forum (SDUF) wants a new path. On June 27, for the Global Day of Action, the group demanded a move away from jails and toward healthcare. Strict laws have clearly failed to stop the flow of drugs. Arrests and long prison sentences just do not work.

Prashant Sharma, co-founder of the SDUF, argues that drug use is a health issue, not a crime. He warned that current enforcement is a bust. "Decades of strict prohibition and punitive laws have failed to curb drug use, trafficking, and production," Sharma said. He pointed to constant drug seizures as proof that the system is broken.

The forum is fighting for voluntary rehab programs. They believe recovery only sticks when people choose it for themselves. Furthermore, the group hit out at a justice system they claim treats the rich and poor differently. They also warned authorities against branding every drug user as a peddler. Sharma wants experts, doctors, and affected citizens to help draft a smarter, more humane policy before things get worse.