Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jul 2005
Source: Cyprus Mail, The (Cyprus)
Copyright: Cyprus Mail 2005
Contact:  http://www.cyprus-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/100
Author: John Leonidou
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

THEODOROU HITS OUT AT DRUG DEATH CLAIMS

CYPRUS has one of the steepest rates of drug death in the European Union, 
according to figures released yesterday by the Cyprus Monitoring Centre for 
Drugs and Drug Addiction (EKTEPN) -- a claim which sparked an angry 
reaction from Justice Minister Doros Theodorou.

The sharp exchange came at a news conference addressed by the Head of 
EKTEPN Neoclis Georgiades, Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides, who is also 
Head of the National Anti-Drugs Council, and Dr Kyriacos Veresies.

Sitting in the front row among the journalists was Justice Minister 
Theodorou. When the speakers asked if anyone had any questions, Theodorou, 
shot up, quizzing Georgiades on his figures, which he claimed were 
unsubstantiated. The minister later requested that a breakdown of 
statistics be sent to him, including the exact dates of every drug death 
counted.

Earlier, Georgiades had outlined his research which showed that Cyprus lies 
fourth in Europe for drug related deaths per 100,000 residents.

"From the data gathered, we can reveal that for the year 2004, the amount 
of people requesting treatment for their drug problems has increased to 450 
compared to the year 2003 when the number was 265. However, it should be 
noted that in 2004, two centres were created for people with drug related 
problems."

Men also tend to lean more towards drugs than women, according to the 
research, which showed 87 per cent of drug users on the island were men 
with the average age of a drug user being 28 for men and 24 for women.

"We see also that around 56 per cent of drug users on the island are Greek 
Cypriots and the rest are either Greek or foreigners living on the island.

"Heroin in the drug which is most at fault in drug related incidents with 
cocaine and crack also attributed to instant drug related deaths."

It was the issue of the number of drug related deaths that most riled 
Theodorou, though he did wait until question time to voice his objections.

Georgiades had said that between January and May 2005, six instant deaths 
had occurred on the island, all due to heroin, whereas a further two 
drug-related deaths had also occurred during the same period. For the whole 
of 2004, there were 14 instant deaths recorded, nine due to heroin, three 
due to a cocktail of heroin and cocaine and two from cocaine. A further 
three drug-related deaths were also recorded in 2004.

Unimpressed, Theodorou hit back.

"Your report fails to mention exactly when the deaths for this year took 
place because I can tell you that within the last three months we have not 
had a drug related death on the island. I would like to have a more 
analytical report on your figures."

Georgiades said he had the details, but not at hand, and would forward them 
to the minister.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Gavrielides said plans to establish units for 
drug users needing methadone were to be put in place at Limassol General 
Hospital, while plans were also under way to establish the same kind of 
unit for Nicosia General Hospital.
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MAP posted-by: Beth