Drug Abuse in the Global Village

Belarus

EXTENT, PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE

                        Extent of Drug Abuse

About 3 per 1000 population were registered drug abusers in 1991 and a total of 1 154 drug abusers were registered in 1992, including 338 new cases.(U.N. 1991 1992).

            In 1988 the Ministry of Public Health of the BSSR carried out a study among drug addicts and non-medical abusers of narcotic drugs. The study found that abuse of opium is prevalent among 71% of all drug abusers, followed by stimulants (22%) (CMO 1990).

            A sample survey of 5000 young people carried out in 1988 found that about 22% of the respondents reported knowing another young person who consumes narcotic drugs and 3% admitted to abusing drugs themselves (CMO 1990).

            A fact finding mission estimates the number of drug addicts to be close to 10 000. Poppy straw extract is the most prevalent (70%), followed by cannabis and pharmaceutical preparations (Mission Report 1993).

                       Abuser Characteristics

Most registered drug abusers are males (78%), 65% are under the age of 30 years old and 11% have higher education (CMO 1990).

                         Regional  Variations

No information reported in Annual Reports Questionnaire y 31st December 1993.

                                    Trends

A recent decrease in the number of solvent abusers was reported by the police. This is attributed to a switch to cannabis among other drugs. Cannabis is reported as becoming popular among young people. LSD was introduced to the market recently, although very few abusers are reported (Mission Report 1993).

                             Mode of intake

A significant percentage of drug addicts (58.7%) are intravenous drug abusers (U.N. 1992).

    COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE

Estimates of costs and consequences are not available. Drug related deaths data is not collected. No AIDS cases are reported but 6 HIV positive individuals have been identified. No information as to whether there are any HIV infections among intravenous drug abusers is available (U.N. 1992).

   NATIONAL RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE

                           National Strategy

A master plan to determine a National Strategy against the spread of drug abuse and illicit trafficking was reported being drafted in September 1993 (Ministry of Internal Affairs 1993). A National Health Plan (NHP) for the years 1988 to 2000 has been adopted (CMO 1990).

LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER ACTION
TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERNATIONAL
             DRUG CONTROL TREATIES**

                           Treaty adherence

Belarus is Party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

        DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

                          Primary Prevention

The NHP aims to promote a healthy lifestyle. It includes prevention programmes aiming to reduce alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse among youth and children in primary and secondary schools. Some of the programmes assign prevention duties to parents and sponsor the distribution of posters, films and slides to promote a healthy way of life (CMO 1990).

            Drug prevention education is part of the national curricula of secondary and technical schools as well as higher education institutions. Basic training on drug education is provided to teachers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health workers, and law enforcement personnel, but not to social workers (U.N. 1992).

            AIDS prevention. There is no free distribution of needles and syringes and drug addicts are reported to share syringes and use disposable ones (U.N. 1992).

                 Treatment and Rehabilitation

Treatment and rehabilitation policy emphasizes early identification of drug abusers by legal and narcological services. When in need, hospitalization and detoxification as well as outpatient care are provided. There are no programmes for social reintegration of drug addicts (U.N. 1992).

          SUPPLY REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

      Arrests, Convictions and types of Offences

In 1991, a total of 304 persons were convicted of drug related offences, including 273 for possession. The majority (252) were males, mainly between 20 and 29 years old (204), and unemployed (149) (U.N. 1991 Part C).

                                   Seizures

Drugs seized in 1991 were cannabis (10 kg) and cannabis plants (21.800 kg), opium plants (197 kg), opium (raw and processed) (4.300 kg) and 114 units of synthetic narcotics (U.N. 1991 Part C).

                      Supply Source of Drugs

Poppies and cannabis are grown locally (U.N. 1991 Part C).

                        References and Notes

** The Legal, Administrative and Other Action Taken to Implement the International Drug Control Treaties section was prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs based on Annual Reports Questionnaires for the years .... (not available by January 15th 1994).

U.N. 1991 and 1992 Replies to UNDCP Annual Report Questionnaires for the years 1991 and 1992.

CMO 1990 Replies to UNDCP questionnaire concerning the seven targets of the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control (CMO) (1990).

Mission Report 1993 Report of a fact finding mission of the United Kingdom to Belarus, June 1993