This report emphasizes issues related to drugs in Greek prisons, particularly cases of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners allegedly suspected or convicted for drug-related crimes, including possession and trafficking, lack of substitute treatment or specific medical attention during withdrawal symptoms, high level of deaths often related to drugs or suicide, long periods of pretrial detention and prison terms for comparatively minor crimes, above all drug related offences.
The Special Rapporteur also addressed the issue of overcrowding in some prisons as a cause of drug and inter-prisoners violence recommending the state to reform criminal and criminal procedure law decriminalizing certain offences, including drug offences, to pass law that drug users not be imprisoned, to guarantee the proper medical care for prisoners.
Citation: Manfred Nowak, 'Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment: Mission to Greece' (2011) A/HRC/16/52/Add.4