General Legislation Commission of the People's Representatives Assembly (ARP) Hears Pharmacists on Bill to Revise Law on Narcotics
Thursday, [Date], Tunis, Tunisia
The General Legislation Commission of the People's Representatives Assembly (ARP) held a hearing on Thursday with representatives from the pharmacists on a proposed bill to revise Law No. 1992-52 on Combating Narcotics-Related Offenses. The bill aims to adopt a comprehensive approach that combines prevention, treatment, and targeted repression.
The presidents of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists in Tunisia (CNOPT) and the Syndicate of Pharmacists of Tunisia (SPOT) emphasized that imprisonment alone is not a sufficient response to the issue. They called for a reduction in penalties for consumers seeking treatment, in exchange for stricter penalties for traffickers and organized crime networks.
The two professional organizations also sounded the alarm on the rapid evolution of synthetic drugs, which are difficult to detect through conventional analysis, and the diversion of certain addictive medications. They called for strengthened control over their distribution and an update of the psychotropic substances list.
They also highlighted the inadequacy of Law No. 1969-54 on Toxic Substances in light of current realities, lamenting the lack of legal protection it offers to pharmacists.
The pharmacists' representatives proposed authorizing voluntary treatment on multiple occasions, citing the low recovery rate. During the debate, several deputies argued for maintaining or increasing penalties for consumers to protect schools and residential areas. Others defended a therapeutic approach, considering consumers as patients, and called for the creation of regional centers specializing in psychological and social care.
It was unanimously agreed that combating this phenomenon requires close coordination between the security, health, education, social, and cultural sectors within a coherent and multidimensional national strategy.
Key Points:
- The proposed bill aims to adopt a comprehensive approach to combating narcotics, combining prevention, treatment, and targeted repression.
- Pharmacists call for reduced penalties for consumers seeking treatment and stricter penalties for traffickers and organized crime networks.
- The rapid evolution of synthetic drugs and the diversion of addictive medications are major concerns.
- Law No. 1969-54 on Toxic Substances is deemed inadequate in light of current realities.
- A therapeutic approach is advocated, considering consumers as patients, and the creation of regional centers for psychological and social care is proposed.
- Close coordination between sectors is essential for combating the phenomenon within a coherent national strategy.
