Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2003
Source: Cyprus Mail, The (Cyprus)
Copyright: Cyprus Mail 2003
Contact:  http://www.cyprus-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/100
Author: Alexia Saoulli
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW DRUGS STRATEGY

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday announced it has started implementing a national 
drug strategy to stamp out what has become a growing problem in Cyprus society.

Health Minister Dina Akkelidou said the increase in the use and spread of 
narcotics was primarily due to the lack of state policy to combat the 
phenomenon. The government has now prepared its 'Strategy and Action Plan 
for Drugs' for the period 2003-2007, she said.

Akkelidou, who is also Chairman of the Cyprus Anti-drug Council, outlined 
some of the basic problems, including the increase of drug use among young 
people, the growing demand for treatment and the absence of drug 
detoxification and rehabilitation centres.

As part of the new strategy, a National Drug Monitoring and Information 
Centre will be set up, which will be linked to the European Monitoring 
Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon, she said.

Akkelidou said the Cabinet had recently approved the Ministry's proposal 
for three new structures: physical detoxification, psychological 
rehabilitation and social reintegration, and treatment communities for 
minors. The deadline for their implementation has been set for the end of 
this year, she added.

Statistics have shown that a growing number of teenagers are now using 
drugs, with 50 per cent of 15-19-year-old drug users using heroine. In one 
recent case, a nine-year-old girl was found to be abusing drugs. Referring 
to the case, Akkelidou said it was "tragic" and "harrowing" that someone 
could get involved in such a dangerous web at such a tender age.

Some people have also linked increasing drug use among minors with an 
increase in petty crime over past years and have called for the government 
to penalise such offenders. But the scientific committee chairman of the 
national strategy plan, Andreas Demetriou, said minors arrested for drug 
use would not go to jail. "Instead the judge will tell them a drug 
rehabilitation programme exists and will send them to join it," he said.

Demetriou said treating just one user would prevent four more from being 
born, because the primary user would not lead others to drugs.

The new policy aims to increase the number of addicts being treated and to 
ease their reintegration into society through the creation of adult and 
minor rehabilitation centres, said Akkelidou. It is the first time such a 
venture has been undertaken in Cyprus, she said.

The minister added that the strategy also aimed to reduce drug demand so 
that fewer younger people started using illegal substances. This will also 
reduce deaths and other consequences associated with drug use, such as the 
spread of transmittable diseases like AIDS.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager