The UN has criticised the way Poland treats its drug addicts in a report released today, with poor levels of treatment and an over emphasis on punishment.

Special UN envoy Anand Grover has conducted research on the Polish system of treating drug-addicted patients, and finds that substitute therapy with methadone is very rarely used nd when it is it used in a way that stops addicts living normal lives.

The report states that the rare cases where substitute therapy is used in Poland show it is not well applied. Rules in Poland demand the patient report every day to a hospital or a treatment centre for the drug, which is distributed only in the morning hours. That, in most cases, eliminates any possibility of work or education for patients, concludes the report.

The UN document also remarks on the anti drug law in Poland, criticizing it for putting too much emphasis on punishment instead of focusing on treatment.

The UN representative was in Poland on the invitation of the Polish government. (ab/pg)