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. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager