Attorney General Arely Gomez Gonzalez Says 'Criminalization of Drug Users Intolerable' Georgina Saldierna and Gustavo Castillo - La Jornada
go to original July 1, 2015

During her participation in the tenth regular meeting of the National Health Council, which took place in Mexico City, Arely Gómez González, Attorney General, declared: “It is not acceptable, by any interpretation of public policy, to criminalize (drug) users. They should be aided in their recovery, respected and watched over to ensure protection of their basic human rights.”

Attorney General Gómez González added that special courts for underage users must be created.

During the meeting, the Secretary of Health, Mercedes Juan indicated that for Mexico the fundamental solution to the drug problem is prevention, for which the government is beefing up actions against the abuse of toxic substances.

According to the National Addiction Survey, almost six million Mexicans have tried illegal drugs at least once. Of this number, almost 400,000 are under 18.

Given this context, the Attorney General commented that it’s clear to the State that the drug trafficking problem must be battled comprehensively. The attractiveness of the resources acquired from the narcotics industry must be played down, and the recruitment of people for the production and sale of narcotics must be stopped. Furthermore,  diverting precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs must be prevented.

Gómez González emphasized that on a national scale, the blows against organized crime must be forceful and precise, because drug trafficking is by its very nature violent. It is about dealing with an illicit economic entity that compels [the State] to establish barriers that complicate its financial operations and distribution channels, events that will always result in a benefit for the population.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Jillian Droste

Related: Mexico Drug War: Vulnerable Groups Pay the Cost - Experts (Mexico Voices)

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!