Service chief: Methadone can be used to cure imprisoned drug addicts in Azerbaijan

Methadone can be used to cure imprisoned drug addicts in Azerbaijan, Deputy Justice Minister and Chief of the Penitentiary Service Madat Guliyev told reporters on Tuesday.

About 5,000 prisoners accused of the illegal manufacture, production, purchase, storage, transportation or sale of illicit drugs are in prisons in Azerbaijan, the service chief said. They were arrested for that they had been taking drugs.

The opportunity to use methadone to cure imprisoned drug addicts is being explored, Guliyev said.

"Methadone is a medicine but causes dependence if it is taken systematically. Therefore, we examine both positive and negative sides of this method of cure. After we end examination we will take final decision of whether methadone should be used," he said.

The UN suggests using methadone in Azerbaijan to cure imprisoned drug addicts. The proposal was made by Arzu Guliyeva, Head of the UN Drugs and Criminality Combat Division’s Project on Azerbaijan, at the sidelines of her meeting Guliyev.


/Trend/