The House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution that formally recognises the right of drug and substance users to treatment. MPs Kyriakos Hadjigiannis and Rita Superman tabled the motion.
Hadjigiannis stressed that the state cannot settle for vague theoretical statements. He said Cyprus has failed to secure this right so far. The resolution forces authorities to acknowledge both the problem and their duty to address it.
Cross-Party Support
DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias highlighted the silence surrounding addiction’s impact. He described tragic situations where mothers seeking help must sign papers for police to commit their children to psychiatric facilities. “That is not a solution,” he stated.
DISY MP Rita Superman explained that the resolution sends a clear message: affected individuals must not face punishment or stigma. Instead, they deserve immediate access to protection and support. She criticised service inertia and gaps in existing programmes.
AKEL MP Irini Charalambidou noted that children lose trust in parents who testify against them to trigger arrests. She urged the Legal Affairs Committee to review procedures. Lawmakers must create a framework that protects both parents and addicts without forcing mothers to denounce their children.
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