Africa-Press – Angola. Today, the 26th, is the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, an ephemeris instituted in 1987 by the United Nations.
Due to the importance of the date, the interviewe is with the director of the National Anti-Drug Fighting Institute, who said that the country had a strategic plan, based on prevention, reduction of demand, supply and risks; harm minimization; dissuasion; treatment and reinsertion. Director Ana da Graça stressed that, in the country, drug users come from all social backgrounds and levels of education and stated that there are no soft or hard drugs, but licit and illicit drugs, because they all alter the central nervous system.
How is the country in the fight against illicit drugs?
Concerning this issue, Angola has been very engaged, creating laws and ratifying international conventions, in order to provide effective responses to the fight against the two categories of drugs, licit and illicit. Roughly speaking, it is difficult to control, taking into account the “modus operandi” of the traffickers which, with each passing day, tends to evolve. However, the country, through the competent authorities, has responded accordingly.
Since there is a National Institute for the Fight against Drugs, created in December 2013, how is the institutional relationship developed with other State bodies involved in the fight against drugs?
The statute of the National Institute for the Fight against Drugs provides for collaboration with other entities, namely the Interministerial Commission for the Fight against Drugs (CILAD), a consultation body, composed of the following ministries: Justice and Human Rights, Social Action, Family and Promotion Women’s Affairs, Youth and Sports, Finance (General Tax Administration), Interior (Criminal Investigation Service), Agriculture and Fisheries, Telecommunications, Information and Media Technologies and Education. Civic, youth and sports associations, churches and private entities also take part, within the scope of the purposes established by the National Anti-Drug Fight Institute, with the aim of strengthening the fight.
What results have been obtained within the scope of the institutional relationship?
In terms of institutional relations, the National Institute for the Fight against Drugs, without a doubt, is an example to follow. Roughly speaking, the results are satisfactory. The fight against drugs cannot be done in isolation. All the living forces of society are called upon to intervene, with the intention of reducing demand and supply, which, in a way, will minimize the risk. For this reason, the institution’s slogan is “Together it is possible to beat drugs”.
How do you assess the level of execution of strategies and public policies that have a direct impact on combating drug trafficking and consumption in Angola?
Based on the implementation of public strategies and policies, the fight against drug trafficking and consumption in Angola is evaluated positively, as indicated in our strategic plan, based on prevention, reduction of demand, supply and risks, minimization of harm. , deterrence, treatment and reinsertion. Each sector is called upon to intervene so that integrated responses become a reality.
What is the configuration of drug trafficking and consumption in Angola? In other words, what are the drugs that circulate in Angola, between light and heavy?
It should be noted that there are no light and heavy drugs, but licit and illicit drugs, because they all alter the individual’s central nervous system, with greater emphasis on: licit: alcohol and cigarettes (tobacco) – and illicit: lime, cocaine, heroin , crack and libanga.
Although the institute is not an investigative body, I still ask you the following question: what is the reality of the country? Do we or do we not have “drug barons”?
It is a question that transcends our ability to answer. As you may know, journalist, the institute is a preventive institution. We work, in fact, with the Ministry of the Interior and the General Tax Administration (AGT), but we are not responsible for the detention of alleged “barons.” It is not a matter for the institute’s responsibility.
Does the National Anti-Drug Fighting Institute know the impact of illicit drugs on the dynamics of crime in Angola?
Yes, because we have received cases associated with criminal practices, as a result of excessive consumption and abuse of psychoactive substances.
How do you rate the work carried out by the rehabilitation and reintegration centers for drug addicts?
At the national level, there is only one rehabilitation and reintegration center for drug addicts, where modern treatment techniques are developed, in four essential dimensions: psychological, medical, psychiatric, spiritual and social.
Excessive consumption of licit and illicit drugs can trigger behavioral disorders in users, which deserve medical care at the psychiatric level. As there is a deficit of psychiatric hospitals in Angola, do you think it would be convenient to have psychiatric services in all hospitals?
I’m not sure if there is a shortage of psychiatric hospitals in the country. We have seen the construction of some reference units recently. I can say that there is no shortage of psychiatric services. More recently, with the admission of more technicians in hospitals, we have the “clinical psychology” aspect operating at all provincial and municipal levels. Health services are municipalized, which means that there are mental health units in the 18 provinces of the country. These are capable of providing integrated responses to users. Psychiatry services exist at the level of municipal hospitals and referral hospitals. Therefore, the treatment of drug addicted patients is not limited to psychiatric services, but to services multidisciplinary, based on psychological treatment, which is extremely important, which is why the monitoring of drug addicts has already been carried out in the Psychology Services at provincial and municipal hospitals. A classic example is the province of Huambo and its eleven municipalities.
Are there studies in Angola that show indicators on, for example, how people enter the world of drugs, age group, social origin and educational level?
We have not carried out any studies. However, a study is in the pipeline and we expect funding for its implementation. It should be noted that, in this regard, based on the care we have provided at an institutional level, as well as at the level of hospitals in the country, people enter the world of drugs in different ways, including predisposing factors (biological and hereditary ) and social. The age group that consumes drugs the most is from 15 to 34 years of age and covers all social backgrounds and all levels of education.
Does Angola’s reality already require greater repression of drug trafficking, through the application of heavy penalties to drug traffickers?
Yes, we can prove this fact by the diploma applied to these situations, which is Law number 3/99, of 6 August (Law on Trafficking and Consumption of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors). Clearly typifying in headings, such as “trafficking and other illicit activities”, that is, in article 4, penalties can be increased in the cases provided for in article 7.
Since the Angolan population is mostly young, what is being done, in terms of prevention, so that the country does not run the risk of one day registering an epidemic of drug abuse?
Working with communities is almost daily. We are aware that everything starts in the communities. For this reason, we have organized, for example, in schools, churches and markets, campaigns to mobilize and raise awareness about the consequences of drugs on families. The institute promotes debates and meetings, participates in national and international conferences and workshops, carries out, annually, throughout the country, reference activities, such as the “Writing and Drawing” contest in primary schools, the “Christmas Without Alcohol” campaign. and, annually, International Workers’ Day, as there is much evidence of drunkenness in the workplace.
If you do fieldwork, as director of the National Institute for the Fight against Drugs, can you tell us, in some detail, about a situation that has moved you?
Personally, what moved me the most was the report by school directors that, sometimes, teachers and students go to school drunk. For some time now, the institute has been working towards the approval of a bill related to the sale and access to alcoholic beverages. Inform that the same project has already been approved by the Council of Ministers and, in the meantime, awaits approval by the National Assembly, for its implementation.
Do you defend the existence of legislation that legalizes liamba for recreational and medicinal use, as it supposedly has therapeutic properties, and for export, through licensing of producers?
There are no scientific studies that prove that liamba has therapeutic properties. Therefore, this is still a debatable issue. Law 3/99, of 6 August, prohibits the trafficking and consumption of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances and precursors.
How should a mother who acquires small portions of lemongrass be treated, to be used, for example, in the treatment of a child with bronchitis or, then, a beauty salon owner, who uses lemongrass to strengthen the scalp of the children? your customers? Would the two be committing a crime for using a prohibited substance?
Yes, we would be facing the practice of a crime, as article 4 of Law 3/99, of 6 August tells us. We would appeal for the awareness of the mother and the person in charge of the establishment about the damages and conduct related to the use and handling of this harmful substance. The aforementioned law is essentially aimed at repressing the production, trafficking and illicit use of drugs.
In southern Africa, seven countries (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, eSuatini and Lesotho) have legalized the cultivation of lemongrass for export for medicinal purposes. Do you know, has the possibility of Angola exporting lime for medicinal purposes ever been discussed?
Not. There are many attempts by private entities that insistently raise this issue. The law in Angola is clear, as we have other priorities, based on the consequences that come from this evil. The cultivation and sale of cannabis, for whatever purpose, is not a priority for the country.
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