Pubdate: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 Source: Budapest Sun (Hungary) Copyright: 2000 The Budapest Sun Contact: Városmajor utca 13. II. emelet Fax: (36-1) 214-0388 Feedback: http://www.budapestsun.com/contact.asp Website: http://www.budapestsun.com/ Author: Eszter Balazs DRUG USE GROWING BUT NOT "TRAGIC" Drug use is on the rise with a resurgence of sniffing in Hungary, according to the drug expert of the Hungarian United Nations Association. Andras Veer announced the results at the presentation of the UN's annual worldwide drugs report. "What Hungary desperately needs is the creation of a national drug strategy," said Veer, who participated in the drafting of such a plan last year. After the May elections, however, a new team started work on the project and Veer is no longer involved. "Currently I do not think that the drug situation is tragic in Hungary.But if a strategy is not agreed upon soon, the problem will worsen rapidly," Veer said. He added that as drug addicts usually get into the health care system in their seventh year of abuse, a wave of seriously ill drug addicts is due to arrive at Hungarian hospitals this year and next. "The drug explosion took place in 1992 in Hungary, so these people will start to boost the statistics from now on," he said. While 20 to 30 people died last year of drug overdose, 10 have died this year in the first two month alone. In the report, Hungary is listed as one of several countries being used more and more frequently by dealers and traffickers because of its geographical location. "Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia are being used as storage and distribution centers, mainly for heroin," he said. As for local preferences, synthetic drugs such as Ecstacy and speed take the lead, which matches the worldwide picture. Next comes marijuana, but heroin use is still marginal, Veer said. He said prevention should be prioritized over punishment. "While there are no sanctions against someone who uses drugs in Denmark or Italy, the percentage of drug users is still low. "In England, although there is a seven-month prison sentence in line for drug users, the statistics are a lot worse," Veer said. He added that the results of any preventative campaign would only be visible in 10 years' time.