Taipei:Health Minister Shih Chung-liang defended his ministry's harm-reduction program, emphasizing that it does not involve supplying illicit drugs in communities. This statement was made in response to political criticisms amid the Taipei mayoral race, where drug policy has become a contentious issue.
According to Focus Taiwan, Shih addressed these concerns at a hearing of the Legislature's Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee, presenting a report on the government's harm-reduction program, addiction treatment, and drug prevention measures. He clarified that the ministry's policy is evidence-based, focusing on needle-exchange programs and methadone treatment, not the direct provision of drugs.
The political clash centers around methadone maintenance treatment and clean-needle distribution, which are part of a dispute between incumbent Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an of the Kuomintang (KMT) and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) challenger, Puma Shen. Shih called for the protection of privacy for individuals seeking addiction treatment, as political rhetoric might discourage them from seeking help.
DPP Legislator Lin Yueh-chin raised concerns about the impact of political statements on trust between social workers and those seeking treatment. She emphasized that portraying community services as mere drug distribution undermines the professionalism of social workers. Privacy issues were highlighted after media crews were brought to inspect methadone clinics, potentially deterring patients.
In response, Shih reiterated the importance of maintaining privacy and accessibility for patients. Lin Ku-ting from the National Police Agency stated that police would be advised against conducting operations at treatment sites to avoid deterring patients.
The dispute intensified after Shen proposed strategies to combat drug use on campuses, which prompted Chiang's campaign to question Shen's stance on drugs. Shen defended his position by referencing existing harm-reduction measures like methadone treatment and needle exchange programs.
The harm-reduction program, launched in 2005, aims to reduce HIV infections linked to needle sharing by providing clean needles and methadone treatment. Methadone, a Category 2 narcotic in Taiwan, is used under medical supervision as substitution therapy for opioid dependence, separate from the clean needle exchange component.