The Parliament of Cyprus has made a new decision. They voted to give immediate treatment to people with drug addiction. This is a big change in policy. The government must now help people get support services. Addiction is now seen as a health problem, not just a crime. Many politicians agreed on this. They want to be more understanding.
Two MPs, Kyriakos Hatzigiannis and Rita Superman, led this idea. They were worried about current treatment programs. Some people said the old laws created shame. They also made it hard for people to get help. Parents found it difficult to get help for their children. They had to deal with difficult rules.
During the debate, many MPs spoke. They said action is needed now. Zacharias Koulias and Irini Charalambidou agreed. They talked about the sadness addiction causes. The discussion focused on real problems. Some said the government made promises but did not deliver services.
The people who supported the decision were strong. Kyriakos Hatzigiannis said the state needs real actions. He said they cannot just use general ideas. Rita Superman explained the main idea. She said Parliament is sending a message. Drug users should get help and support. They should not be punished. This is different from what was said before.
The new decision also means looking at laws. Some laws make parents testify against their children. This is to get state help. The new plan wants to change this. It wants to protect families. People should ask for help without fear.
This decision will have a large effect. It creates rules for future changes. It shows a strong wish to help people. The laws for crimes stay the same. However, the new plan will change how police work. It will also affect courts and social services. Cyprus is now following a trend in Europe. Many countries see drug problems as health issues. The next step is to make this happen. They need to create good programs with money.