Laws separating drug dealers from users ‘not applied’

Legal provisions distinguishing major drug dealers from users are not being properly applied, according to the Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals (KETHEA), which said recovering addicts are still receiving excessive penalties while the real offenders escape proper punishment.

In comments Tuesday, the head of KETHEA’s board of directors, Gerasimos Notaras, said there were “serious delays” in the implementation of a law passed in August 2013, referring to “administrative negligence.” He gave the example of a drug user who was given a prison sentence by a Greek court recently despite having completed a course of rehabilitation at KETHEA.