Understanding the problem is the first step towards solving it!

In our modern age there are a lot of drug addiction stereotypes, which creates an atmosphere of biased threat towards them. Stigmatization leads to even more isolation for drug addicts and healthy people feel a negative psychological impact by these stereotypical images.

Within a framework of active initiatives, the World League "Mind Free of Drugs" calls to abandon the use of illicit substances through an international project "Let’s protect drug addicts of the world!". With the slogan "Understanding the problem is the first step towards solving it!" this project was established to convey an innovative information campaign against the common societal fear of drug addicts and drugs. This will allow us to break the stereotype that former drug addicts forever drop out from society, and give the world a new vision of the situation: drug addicts are sick people who need direct and timely help.

The scope of the project is dictated by diverse types of discrimination, reflected in an undifferentiated approach to all drug addicts, irrespective of which drugs and how long they have been used. Even in hospitals drug addicts can feel the severe effects of stigma – such as refusal of doctors to treat infectious hepatitis in drug users because of fear that the medical staff might be at risk of infection. When applying for a job, a candidate who used drugs in the past often gets rejected, and in a growing trend, during strategic detention, addicts risks their freedom more than the drug dealers...

In conclusion, discrimination against drug addicts fully involves a violation of human rights in all spheres of life. Therefore, in addition to the activities and events aimed at building public consciousness of tolerance to drug addicts, we offer stigmatized persons legal, financial and emotional support from the World League "Mind Free of Drugs".

The project involves the participation of international human rights organizations and lawyers based on partnership, which will allow us to jointly fight against the limitation of the rights of those who used psychoactive substances or drug addicts. In addition to public organizations, we call for cooperation from employment agencies and employment services to create a stable post-rehabilitation platform with job quotas, as well as to help in workplace socialization and de-stigmatization.