Drug Use and Human Rights Approach: An Overview By

Abstract

Drug is a challenge that has brought untold hardship to both the users and the society. In response to the challenges, States and law enforcement bodies have over the years being combating drug use with prosecution, restrictions and approaches that have not helped in reducing this menace. Drug users complain of series of human right abuses which includes routine arrest, detention by law enforcement agencies, extortion, physical harm, rape and sexual assault as well as stigmatization and neglect. This paper evaluates the human rights effect of conventional means of combating drug use in our society and concludes that the rights of the users should be respected and protected. Although not recommending legitimisation of drug use, this paper advances the argument that the decriminalization of drug use could help achieve a better approach to the rights of the users and hence lead to a better control and reduction in drug use.