Drug Abuse in the Global Village
San Marino
EXTENT, PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE
Extent of Drug Abuse
Registers of drug abusers are kept by the "Service pour la Toxicomanie" and by law authorities following testing for drug abuse. In 1992, a total of 28 persons were registered drug addicts, 23 to heroin, 1 to cocaine and 4 to cannabis. Of the total 5 were registered for the first time in 1992 (U.N. 1992).
Abuser Characteristics
Of the registered drug addicts, the majority (19) were male and all males and females were between 20 and 34 years old. Cannabis is abused by the younger age group (20 to 24 years old), whereas, heroin is abused by the 25 to 34 age group (U.N. 1992).
Regional Variations
No information reported by 31st December 1993.
Trends
In 1992, heroin, cocaine and benzodiazepine abuse are reported stable, and a large decrease in cannabis abuse has been noted, mainly due to changes in attitudes towards drugs (U.N. 1992).
Mode of intake
Heroin is reported inhaled and injected. Benzodiazepines are reported ingested, when not taken in combination with heroin (U.N. 1992).
COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE
Drug related deaths. Between 1990 and 1992 a total of 4 deaths due to heroin abuse were reported, 3 of men and 1 women, all between 20 and 24 years old (U.N. 1992).
AIDS among injecting drug users. Only one AIDS case has been reported in San Marino as of June 1993, an injecting drug abuser (AIDS surveillance in Europe, 1993).
NATIONAL RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE
National Strategy
No information reported by 31st December 1993.
LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER ACTION
TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERNATIONAL
DRUG CONTROL TREATIES**
Treaty adherence
San Marino is not Party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol, 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, or the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES
Primary Prevention
Prevention activities are carried out in secondary schools and higher education establishments since 1981 (U.N. 1992).
Basic drug education training is planned for doctors for the years 1993 and 1994. No training is provided to other professions. No other targeted prevention programmes are carried out (U.N. 1992).
Religious groups, political parties and law enforcement agencies are involved in preventive programmes in the form of conferences and debates (U.N. 1992).
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Treatment is tailored according to the drug abused. For "soft drugs", treatment is carried out in San Marino, but for "heavy drugs" it is done abroad (there are 7 therapeutic communities and one specialized hospital outside San Marino for such treatment) (U.N. 1992).
SUPPLY REDUCTION ACTIVITIES
Arrests, Convictions and types of Offences
For 1991, 84 drug related offences were reported (87 in 1990). Sixty three related to abuse of cannabis (83 in 1990), 5 of heroin (2 in 1990), 9 of cocaine (2 in 1990) and 2 to synthetic narcotics. (U.N. 1990 1991)
Seizures
Most seizures in 1991 relate to cannabis type drugs (22 plants, 0.166 kg resin), followed by cocaine (0.007 kg) and heroin (0.002 kg) and hallucinogens (5 units) (U.N. 1991).
Supply Source of Drugs
No information reported by 31st December 1993.
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. 1990,1991,1992. Replies to the UNDCP Annual Reports Questionnaires for the years 1990, 1991 and 1992.
AIDS Surveillance in Europe, 1993. AIDS surveillance in Europe Quarterly Report Number 38, 30 June 1993.