26.06.2009 - On 25-26 June 2009 the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia organized a national workshop in Tsahkadzor on drug related legislation for lawyers and legal experts representing all drug related institutions of Armenia.
During the two-day event the participants exchanged views aimed at improving drug related legislation in Armenia to conform to the international best practices.
Within the framework of the workshop, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was marked on 26 June. This year the theme is “Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. No place for drugs.” The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and to inspire people to act against drug abuse and trafficking. The campaign encourages young people to put their health first and not to take drugs.
According to 2008 World Drug Report data, nearly 200 million people are using illicit drugs worldwide. Cannabis (marihuana, hashish) leads by far with 162 million users. An estimated 16 million people use opiates, including heroin and some 13 million people use cocaine.
Based on 2005 WHO estimates, the number of Intravenous Drug Users in Armenia varies from 7000 to 11000 people. According to the official data from the police, 1084 cases of drug related crimes and 6 cases of drug related administrative offences had been reported in 2007, whereas in 2004 this number was 411. The number of patients admitted for treatment in Armenia has increased sharply over the last 6 years from 7 in 2002 to 466 in 2008.
“Despite the major efforts of Armenian authorities and international organizations, drug abuse still remains a serious problem. It is alarming that the majority of the victims of drug abuse are young people, being not able to handle social pressures like peer influence, unemployment and poverty,” said Mr. Dirk Boberg, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.
The United Nations has played a central role the fight against drugs. Since 2001 UNDP in Armenia implements the EU funded South Caucasus Anti Drug programme (SCAD) with an overall objective of its fifth phase to reinforce EU good practices in the field of drug policies.
Within the framework of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, SCAD-V programme in Armenia, in close cooperation with the RoA Government, has carried out a series of awareness raising projects. In particular, parents from 5 schools were trained on primary drug prevention issues to exchange their knowledge with other parents from those schools. PSAs on drug prevention, targeting parents and youngsters, are being broadcasted throughout the country. Two types of leaflets for parents and youth are being disseminated through the “Star” supermarket chain. 1000 copies of a parents’ guidebook “Your kids and drugs; what you can do as a parent” was developed and published to be distributed among the parents of at risk youth. Finally, a healthy lifestyle poster devoted to 26 June was developed and published in 3000 copies to be distributed in all Armenian schools.
