A/HRC/43/59 D. Harm caused Drug addiction can inflict severe physical, psychological, emotional, financial and other harm on an individual, which has consequential negative effects for the family, and also society. The mental and physical harm caused by high and/or prolonged use of methamphetamine can include insomnia, anxiety, palpitations, loss of teeth, confusion, irrational behaviour, hallucinations and paranoid thoughts, bleeding cough, loss of memory, fatigue and exhaustion, impatience, anger and increased aggressiveness. There is also an increased risk of tuberculosis transmission due to sharing smoking equipment. 41 Heroin is more commonly injected. The mental and physical harm caused by high and/or prolonged use of heroin can include damage to veins and arteries that can lead to gangrene and to infections, severe depression, insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, intense craving and death by overdose or vomiting.42 Sharing needles and syringes carries a high risk of HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C transmission. Nearly 1 in 3 injecting drug users in Myanmar is living with HIV, which is 48 times higher than the prevalence in the general population. 43 The impacts of drug addiction are also felt by families of drug addicts. Although increasing numbers of women, particularly in trading sites for goods transported to China, are reportedly taking drugs, most users in Myanmar are reportedly male. Gender inequality in Myanmar society heightens problems, as already bearing the burden of all domestic work, women struggle when husbands, sons and fathers not only stop providing income to the family but sell off family possessions and steal to feed their drug habit. Women are also expected to care for drug users when they fall ill. 44 IV. Conclusion The high rate of drug addiction in Myanmar is affecting fundamental rights of many individuals, particularly within ethnic communities affected by conflict. This includes the rights to an adequate standard of living, work, just and favourable conditions of work, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, education, take part in cultural life, life, freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, liberty and security of person, and privacy and family life. More research into this area, and in particular the human rights implications, is needed. The Government must do more and implement the National Drug Control Policy, focusing on tackling organised crime and corruption. At the same time community level interventions should be centred on education and harm reduction instead of punitive criminal justice measures, with the assistance of international agencies. Finally, there must be accountability for the Tatmadaw, and militias involved in drug production and sales. 41 42 43 44 Cachia and Thura Myint Lwin, 2019. National Institute on Drug Abuse https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin. Drug Policy Advocacy Group Myanmar 2017. KWAT, 2014. 29