The Minister of Justice of Cyprus Emily Yiolitis, accompanied by the director of the only prison on the island Anna Aristotelous, recently visited two drug treatment centers in Latsia, a suburb of Nicosia.

During the visit, the Minister emphasized that those who use drugs and alcohol should not be considered as lawbreakers, but as people in need of treatment.
And she added that “drugs and alcoholism is one of the most important, complex and multifaceted problems in modern society”.

Last year the institutions were modernized and now underage young people who use drugs can get necessary treatment there. Previously, this was only possible after they reached the age of 18.
Patients are referred to drug centers in Cyprus by the anti-drug police (YKAN).

In one of her interviews, Anna Aristotelous noted that 2020 will be the year of introduction of alternative sentences, citing the mutual benefits for both offenders and society. Also, it should solve the problem of overcrowding in the prison.