Legal oil leaves narcotics - dependent minors unattended

Using Narcotics by teenagers and youths, poses a growing concern for Kosovo society. Hello MusliuA mother of Ferizaj, whose son had died of narcotics use, had confessed her story to Radio Free Europe, indicating that her son had started abusing narcotics since the age of 14.

As a result of the use of these substances, he had died five years later. Parents, like Ariita's case, seek the help of the authorities on such occasions. It has indicated that it had sought police assistance, the anti-drug unit, respectively, but had encountered disagreement with the current law.

I asked for help... my son was arrested with a small amount of police being insufficient to arrest or take precautions. The problem was that my son was under the age of 18 and didn't get the law, unfortunately”, she showed.

But, Kosovo Police spokesman Daut Hoxha, has indicated that the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo envisions that every person who commits criminal work, purchase, possession, distribution and unauthorized selling of narcotics, psychotrope and analog substances, at the order of the prosecutor, suspects arrested for this crime.

The first-time drug addict who owns less than three (3) grams of narcotic substances or psychotropic or analog substances is fined or sentenced to imprisonment until (1) year. For minors, the Court may issue other measures, such as compulsory psychiatric treatment with a ban on the health care institution, compulsory psychiatric treatment in freedom, and treatment with mandatory rehabilitation of drug addicts or alcoholics, Hoxha has said.

In the case of her son, Arjeta Musliu, has said that in practice it is different from what is reported by authorities.

The “was taken in an interview or 24 hours of maintenance and released, because the user is over 18 years old and has the right to his life, lives his life as he wishes. This is for pity. Which age is also the law from 14 to 18 years of age and above, it either strikes or punishes the user. I really disagree with such a law, I disagree and I continue to disagree“, she stressed.

About 35 thousand people, the number of Narcotics Users in Kosovo. The average age of those who abuse these substances year after year has marked a decline. Currently, the youngest age drug abuse is 16.

So has Free Europe Radio, Safet Blakaj from the Medico-Psykoceerapeutic Centre “Labyrint” According to him, competent authorities, based on current laws, have no right to arrest a person who uses narcotic substances, just as they have no right to force him into rehabilitation. The arrest, according to him, is only for people selling narcotics.

The drug user is not condemned or accused. They have no right to arrest someone who uses drugs. There is no mandatory treatment for drug and alcohol use. Must be voluntary treatment. No one has the right to violently isolate someone who uses substances. This rule applies in all states. No mandatory rehabilitation. The same applies to minor age. So only if the person sells drugs, then they're arrested by the police, has Blakaj stressed.

But Arjeta Musliu said that her son was the victim of this negative phenomenon and points to the moment when her son had asked her for help because she wanted to be healed.

You're going to support me, Mom. I don't make it to my own”, he told that guy in critical moments.

Her son's request for help and shipment to the rehabilitation center was late. Mrs. Musliu has said he's trying to make sure that the boy's “is done with” today. It has opened a consulting center for users of narcotics.

Our focus is primarily on supporting, sensibility, professional and psychological awareness of family members. We have different categories of family members asking for advice, supporting”, she indicated.

Kosovo has no rehabilitation centre for persons who have created addiction to narcotics substances. At the University Clinical Centre, at the Psychiatric Clinic respectively, several rooms in which they receive treatment and have the right to stay from 7 to 10 days.