Overcoming addiction is a grueling process that can be physically and emotionally taxing – not just for the users themselves, but their loved ones as well. However, even after an individual has acknowledged their habit and turned to others for help, it is an unfortunate fact that they will likely continue to face a heavy societal stigma.
Recently, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former president of Brazil and current chairman of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, spoke out on this issue in a piece for The New York Times, calling for increased sensitivity in drug abuse intervention and treatment methods.
"When people are dehumanized we know from experience that abuses against them are more likely. We know also that those abuses are less likely to be addressed because fewer people care," wrote Cardoso.
Citing a report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, Cardoso notes that these officials have acknowledged that drug users the world over have been "pushed to the margins of society," and adds that, for many, their human rights have also been infringed in the process.
So, what can be done to promote the rights of addicts, both as they seek treatment and after they recover? Cardoso argues that the human rights movement must play a more active role in global drug policy going forward to ensure that addicts are treated as patients rather than criminals.
If your loved one is battling an addiction, your ongoing compassion and support are paramount not just as they fight to overcome their habit, but after they have beaten it as well. At Intervention Services, our professional interventionists can help you and your family throughout this complex and emotionally fraught process.