Q:
A:
Worrying increase in number of drug addicts
Belgrade,
26 June 2012
Deputy Police Director of the Ministry of the Interior Branislav Mitrovic warned today that the number of drug addicts in Serbia has increased, noting that young people begin experimenting with psychoactive substances on average at the age of 17.
Mitrovic said at a press conference held at the Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut", on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs that the largest amount of drugs and drug addicts in Serbia is in the big cities such as Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis, but there are many in smaller and poorest places like Bor.
He recalled that drug smuggling chains were cut in Serbia on several occasions, but noted that this is not enough and that more must be done in the countries that produce drugs.
Mitrovic stated that operational data show that Kosovo-Metohija is used for storing large amounts of drugs despite the presence of EULEX and that the results of confiscation of drugs are symbolical and that very few of those who sell drugs have been arrested.
According to him, 1,478 kilograms of drugs were sized in Serbia in the previous year.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator and Head of the World Health Organisation in Serbia Dorit Nitzan pointed out that convincing people that they should get treated for drug addiction is a real challenge.
Drugs not only have a direct impact on health and overall well-being, but billions of dollars obtained from illegal activities related to drugs are used for terrorist and criminal activities, including human trafficking and smuggling of weapons, Nitzan warned.
On 26 June each year the United Nations mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs and lead a global campaign to raise awareness of the major challenges that drugs pose to society as a whole, particularly for young people.
The theme of the campaign in 2012 is “Global Action for Healthy Communities Without Drugs”.
He recalled that drug smuggling chains were cut in Serbia on several occasions, but noted that this is not enough and that more must be done in the countries that produce drugs.
Mitrovic stated that operational data show that Kosovo-Metohija is used for storing large amounts of drugs despite the presence of EULEX and that the results of confiscation of drugs are symbolical and that very few of those who sell drugs have been arrested.
According to him, 1,478 kilograms of drugs were sized in Serbia in the previous year.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator and Head of the World Health Organisation in Serbia Dorit Nitzan pointed out that convincing people that they should get treated for drug addiction is a real challenge.
Drugs not only have a direct impact on health and overall well-being, but billions of dollars obtained from illegal activities related to drugs are used for terrorist and criminal activities, including human trafficking and smuggling of weapons, Nitzan warned.
On 26 June each year the United Nations mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs and lead a global campaign to raise awareness of the major challenges that drugs pose to society as a whole, particularly for young people.
The theme of the campaign in 2012 is “Global Action for Healthy Communities Without Drugs”.
-
Belgrade, 22 January 2025Egypt one of Serbia’s closest partners on international stage
-
Belgrade, 9 July 2024Support for 104 associations in diaspora that preserve Serbian language, culture
-
Belgrade, 15 April 2024Competition for StarTech grants open until 31 May
-
Belgrade, 2 October 2023Serbia respects Resolution 1244 and will do everything to preserve peace
-
Belgrade, 13 September 2023Day of Serbian Unity to be celebrated outside borders of Serbia, Republika Srpska for the first time
-
Belgrade, 8 August 2023RSD 24.2m in state aid paid out to citizens affected by storm
-
Belgrade, 17 June 2023Belgrade is doing everything to preserve peace in Kosovo and Metohija
-
Belgrade, 15 June 2023Slovenia will continue to support Serbia on its way to EU
-
Belgrade, 5 May 2023Emergency measures, tightening of conditions for possessing weapons
-
Belgrade, 3 May 2023Three days of mourning in Serbia over tragedy at Vladislav Ribnikar primary school