Latvian Ministry of Health has prepared amendments that exempt minors from criminal liability for drug use, as reported by LETA.
In the summer of 2024, Latvian Medical Society and the “Open Radošais centrs”, which work with young people who have ended up in a difficult situation, issued a call to state officials to de-criminalise the use of narcotics. According to both organisations, such changes could prevent deaths from drug overdoses in adolescent and youth environments, because they would open up more opportunities for preventive measures, because addicts could talk more confidently about their problems. This suggestion received a mixed response.
The Ministry of Health has prepared relevant amendments to the law, which hope to “promote the re-socialisation of juvenile offenders”. Currently, the possibility of more successful re-socialisation for minors who are subject to criminal liability for drug use and who are punished with imprisonment is reduced, the ministry comments. This also makes treatment of drug addiction more difficult.
The ministry reiterates the position once expressed by associations that the benefit of de-criminalising the use of drugs would be to reduce stigma,
which is important for people seeking medical help. Such changes would also allow the implementation of various harm reduction measures to prevent overdoses and reduce the prevalence of infectious diseases among both users and society as a whole.
According to the ministry, minors who use drugs, being aware of the potential legal consequences and their impact on the future, are still afraid to turn to law enforcement and seek medical help.
The ministry notes that de-criminalisation will improve the state of health of addicts and reduce the number of deaths from drug overdoses.
The ministry adds that de-criminalisation does not directly affect the prevalence and trends of drug use and possession, but it can improve access to health care, as people who may have been afraid to seek medical help in the past because of legal consequences may feel safer seeking the help they need.
In the opinion of the ministry, the abolition of criminal liability will make other preventive measures more accessible – harm reduction services, community-based support services and also treatment services will be more widely available.
The Ministry of Health has submitted the legislative draft for public discussions, which will last until the 10th of February.