Q:
A:
Entire society should be roused to fight drug addiction
Belgrade,
26 June 2006
Serbian Minister of Health Tomica Milosavljevic announced today that one of the tasks of competent authorities will be to establish the proportions of drug addiction in Serbia.
Author:
FoNet
At a press conference on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Milosavljevic said that there are between 30,000 and 100,000 drug addicts in Serbia, out of which 4,926 are registered in Belgrade. This year's conference was themed "Fight against Drugs, Mission Possible".
Milosavljevic specified that the number of new registered addicts has more than tripled in the past 10 years, namely, in 1997 there were 249 newly-registered and in 2005 as many as 961 newly-registered addicts who sought help at health centres around Belgrade, he added.
According to Milosavljevic, treatment of addictive diseases carried out in health centres should be distinguished from resocialisation programmes organised by NGOs.
He recalled that late last year, research was for the first time carried out in line with European standards regarding alcohol and drug abuse among the young in Serbia.
Milosavljevic announced that similar research projects will in future be conducted annually according to the methodology that has already been applied in 35 countries within the European school project on alcohol and drugs. In late summer, further research is to take place that will include citizens between 15 and 55 years of age, he added.
He said that this year's slogan can become reality if the entire Serbian society is included in these activities.
Vice-President of the National Committee against the Abuse of Psychoactive Substances Nikola Vuckovic stressed that all countries are expected to deal with addiction disorders at state level.
He therefore announced that Serbia will soon have a national strategy against the abuse of psychoactive substances and an action plan comprising concrete goals. He also recalled that the government has already set up the Committee for Prevention of the Abuse of Psychoactive Substances and that an expert public discussion on the strategy is taking place in towns throughout Serbia. Here, citizens will be able to submit their objections once the document is posted on the health ministry's web site, he added.
UNDP deputy standing representative to Serbia-Montenegro Rastislav Vrbensky pointed out that this organisation is in favour of the strategy and that it has taken part in financing several projects dealing with prevention of drug abuse.
Milosavljevic specified that the number of new registered addicts has more than tripled in the past 10 years, namely, in 1997 there were 249 newly-registered and in 2005 as many as 961 newly-registered addicts who sought help at health centres around Belgrade, he added.
According to Milosavljevic, treatment of addictive diseases carried out in health centres should be distinguished from resocialisation programmes organised by NGOs.
He recalled that late last year, research was for the first time carried out in line with European standards regarding alcohol and drug abuse among the young in Serbia.
Milosavljevic announced that similar research projects will in future be conducted annually according to the methodology that has already been applied in 35 countries within the European school project on alcohol and drugs. In late summer, further research is to take place that will include citizens between 15 and 55 years of age, he added.
He said that this year's slogan can become reality if the entire Serbian society is included in these activities.
Vice-President of the National Committee against the Abuse of Psychoactive Substances Nikola Vuckovic stressed that all countries are expected to deal with addiction disorders at state level.
He therefore announced that Serbia will soon have a national strategy against the abuse of psychoactive substances and an action plan comprising concrete goals. He also recalled that the government has already set up the Committee for Prevention of the Abuse of Psychoactive Substances and that an expert public discussion on the strategy is taking place in towns throughout Serbia. Here, citizens will be able to submit their objections once the document is posted on the health ministry's web site, he added.
UNDP deputy standing representative to Serbia-Montenegro Rastislav Vrbensky pointed out that this organisation is in favour of the strategy and that it has taken part in financing several projects dealing with prevention of drug abuse.
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