22/10/2025
This afternoon at Teens Watch Drop in Centre in kwale County during our nutrition and grooming session we had a speaker talk to the clients on the human rights and legal protection entitlment for People who use and Inject Drugs(PWIDs).
People who use drugs (PWUD) are entitled to the same human rights and legal protections as any other person. While drug use is often criminalized or stigmatized in many societies, international human rights law recognizes that drug users do not lose their rights simply because they use drugs. In fact, they are often beneficiaries of specific rights-based protections and public health services.
Here’s a breakdown of their rights and the types of services (benefits) they are often entitled to:
✅ Rights of People Who Use Drugs
1. Right to Health
Access to harm reduction services (e.g., needle exchange, opioid substitution therapy, supervised consumption sites).
Access to non-discriminatory and evidence-based healthcare.
Treatment for drug dependence, if they seek it, without coercion.
2. Right to Life and Safety
Protection from violence, including police brutality or abuse.
Protection from overdose (through availability of naloxone, for example).
Safe environments to reduce risks associated with drug use.
3. Right to Non-Discrimination
Protection from stigma, marginalization, and unequal treatment due to drug use.
Equal access to housing, employment, education, and healthcare.
4. Right to Privacy
Confidentiality in medical treatment.
Protection from arbitrary searches and drug testing without cause.
5. Right to Due Process
Fair treatment in the criminal justice system.
Access to legal representation and protection from arbitrary detention.
6. Right to Information
Access to accurate, evidence-based information about drugs, harm reduction, and treatment options.
7. Right to Freedom from Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment
Protection from forced rehabilitation, beatings, or punitive treatment in detention centers or rehab programs.
Services and Support (Benefits) PWUD May Be Entitled To
Harm reduction services, such as:
Needle and syringe programs (NSPs)
Opioid agonist therapy (OAT), like methadone or buprenorphine
Overdose prevention services
Safe consumption rooms
Health care services:
HIV, hepatitis C, and TB testing and treatment
Mental health and addiction treatment
General medical care
Social support:
Housing assistance (e.g., Housing First programs)
Employment and reintegration programs
Food, hygiene, and shelter support
Legal aid and advocacy services
