AMERICA/ARGENTINA – Drugs: "it is urgent to move from concern to action"

Thursday, 30 October 2014

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishop of the diocese of Gualeguaychú, His Exc. Mgr. Jorge Eduardo Lozano, who is President of the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral, acknowledged that recently there has been talk about the country's problem regarding drugs. However, concern is not enough, it is necessary to take a first step towards action. He also warned of the consequences of "ambiguous messages" that generate the idea that "if one makes use of drugs once it does not do anything" or that there is also a "safe use".
Talking to some media workers at the end of a celebration he had attended on 28 October in Buenos Aires, to better illustrate the concept, the Bishop gave this example: "One of the biggest threats in the desert is a mirage. We are deceived with appearances which makes us run to nowhere, wasting energy. Meanwhile, those who get rich are the narco-gangs, organized by unscrupulous individuals, without a country, without solidarity, only greed for money and power".
The theme is topical these days in the country, as the Argentine government has to decide the strategy to be adopted to combat drug use. The Church has repeatedly criticized this situation. Mgr. Jorge Lozano has said that "before thinking of decriminalization, one must address the issues of social inclusion, strengthen equal opportunities and fight drug use" (see Fides 11/10/2014). Meanwhile, the situation continues to deteriorate, and many young drug users are marginalized by society, leading to suicide, denounces Mgr. Torrado Mosconi, Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago del Estero (see Fides 21/08/2014). (CE) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2014)


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