Focus on reforming, not punishing addicts: Expert

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5

Checking the demand for drugs should be the main focus rather than the general policing of locking up the drug abusers, said Prof Angela Hawken, an expert from New York University on drugs, crime and corruption.

Prof Angela is director of Marron Institute of Urban Management with New York University. Based on her interaction with police personnel, she said there was a need to provide a shift-based system to the police. “The main demand of the constabulary and higher ranks is for having a shift-based system along with weekly

offs for better performance. Policing in Punjab is a round-the-clock job unlike in the US and other countries,” she said.

Prof Angela said due to the high-stress job, personnel were concerned about their own well-being and general health. “Öne of the main concern they shared with us was their reputation within the community. It seems due to long working hours and lack of stress management, their behaviour is impacted,” she said.

Prof Angela has worked with teams in Mexico and studied corruption in Afghanistan besides helping other countries with policing initiatives. She gave a presentation at Police Headquarters here on various projects and initiatives to be taken up with the Punjab Police. She also toured and held meetings with different ranks of policemen in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. “Drug abuse and deaths due to opioid substances is a big problem in the US as well as in Punjab. The key is to check the demand as an addict will find a way to access the drugs by hook or crook,” she said.

On the ways to rehabilitate jail inmates, Prof Anegla said studies reveal that one or probably the best way to manage inmates and to rehabilitate them was to keep them busy. “This may include exercise, sports, yoga or a constructive activity,” she said.