Pubdate: Sat, 08 May 2004
Source: Cyprus Mail, The (Cyprus)
Copyright: Cyprus Mail 2004
Contact:  http://www.cyprus-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/100
Author:  Alex Mita

GOVERNMENT STEPS UP MEASURES TO TACKLE GROWING DRUGS PROBLEM

Health Minister Dina Akkelidou said yesterday a strategic plan approved by 
the plenum would help combat the growing drug problem on the island by 
collecting data and working closely with the EU.

According to police statistics, the number of drug related cases increased 
from 252 in 1999 to 475 in 2003, and a drug rehabilitation centre yesterday 
revealed the number of people seeking rehab had increased in the last 
couple of years, with people trying drugs as early as 11 years old.

"The strategy and two plans of actions aim to reduce demand and supply, and 
to set up and operate a National Drugs Database (NDD), something that was 
already put in operation in March," Akkelidou said.

The strategy and plan of action were prepared as drafts in June 2003, and, 
after signing an agreement with the EU, experts visited the island to 
discuss ways of combating drug use with the Drugs Council.

"The NDD is a computerised centre that has already begun documenting valid 
data based on practices used in Europe on the issue of drug use and other 
related problems stemming from addiction," Akkelidou said.

"All the information will be used to evaluate the drugs problem on the 
island and the measures taken to combat the problem, and will help us be a 
part of the EU network based in Portugal."

Drugs Council Executive Secretary Tonia Payiata told the Cyprus Mail 
yesterday the NDD had been put in operation in March and would be used to 
collect and monitor data on five indicators.

"The indicators are mortality, research in the general population, research 
in the education sector, use of drugs in schools, treatment and demand, and 
after evaluating the data, the centre will be able to show the trends," she 
said.

"When we know the trends we will then be able to form a policy on the 
problem, whether the problem lies in teenagers, and act accordingly."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager