The Georgian Association of Addictologists (GAA) has strongly criticized the ruling Georgian Dream party over its proposed tightening of drug laws, calling the reform “destructive” and urging its suspension. The association argues that Georgia’s drug policy has never been liberal and remains punitive due to Soviet-era influences.
The association attributes the country’s drug-related issues to deeper systemic problems, including:
* Insufficient access to treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention programs.
* Lack of free mental health services.
* Limited accessibility to a healthy lifestyle due to widespread poverty.
* Parental emigration driven by unemployment, leaving children in dysfunctional family environments.
* High levels of problematic alcohol consumption among the population.
“All of these factors contribute to drug dependence and substance use risks. The claim that a so-called ‘liberal drug policy’ is responsible for Georgia’s drug situation is simply untrue,” the statement reads.
The GAA further argues that the proposed reform lacks scientific backing and professional expertise. According to the association, historical evidence from various countries shows that repressive drug policies are ineffective in reducing drug use. Despite strict punishments, no country has successfully curbed drug consumption through punitive measures. Instead, such approaches push drug use underground, limiting access to health services and increasing risks for users.
A particularly alarming aspect of the reform, according to the GAA, is the intensification of street drug testing. The association warns that this could lead to widespread human rights violations, affecting not only drug users but the entire society.
The proposed amendments, the GAA states, contradict Georgia’s official drug prevention strategies for 2021–2026 and 2023–2030, which emphasize care, human rights, and evidence-based approaches. Instead, the new measures revert to repressive and ineffective practices.
On March 17, Mamuka Mdinaradze, executive secretary of Georgian Dream, announced that the reform would introduce legislative changes allowing courts to impose “mandatory treatment” as a punishment for drug-related offenses.
