The Committee considered the second periodic report of Italy in 1992. Members of the Committee requested information on Italy’s policies regarding AIDS and drug abuse (paragraph 179). Italy’s representative noted that Italian legislation ‘had been modified so that criminal proceedings were not instituted if the drug user accepted treatment… [and thus] imprisonment was used only as a last resort in cases where treatment was refused or where a person was caught again in possession of drugs. The Government’s goal was to rehabilitate drug users. However, penalties for drug dealing had been stiffened’ (paragraph 181).
Citation: UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 'Consideration of the Second Periodic Report of Italy' (1992) CESCR E/1993/22