War on drugs must focus on saving lives, Vatican official says

(March, 19, 2009):- The health, dignity and lives of people suffering drug addiction must be the centerpiece of the global war on drugs, a Vatican official told a meeting sponsored by the United Nations. Bishop Jose Redrado Marchite, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, led the Vatican delegation at the March 11-20 meeting of the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria. The Bishop said that too many people consider drug abuse a reality that forms part of our daily lives, and so, one can seek only to limit its damage. But drug abuse destroys lives, tears families apart, gives rise to crime and enriches international criminal networks, Bishop Redrado said and added that the Vatican delegation was participating in the Vienna meeting to encourage strategies that focus first on the health, dignity and life of drug addicts..
The Bishop noted that in the fields of education, health care, family and youth ministry, the Catholic Church has a long and successful history of fighting drug abuse and caring for its victims. He said one-third of all Catholic hospitals, clinics and dispensaries worldwide have a program for the prevention or treatment of drug abuse. The programs identify and assist drug addicts, provide education about drug prevention, and train health care workers to treat and minister to addicts and their families, added Bishop Redrado .