Pubdate: Wed, 27 Jun 2007
Source: Messenger, The (Georgia)
Copyright: 2007 The Messenger
Contact:  http://www.messenger.com.ge/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3587
Author: Ana Datiashvili

TBILISI MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG USE

To mark the UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit 
Trafficking, government officials rounded up and destroyed thousands 
of used needles found on the streets of Tbilisi on June 26.

The Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs and the Young 
Doctors Association held the anti-drug action with the slogan "Health 
is in fashion".

Participants of the action collected over 5000 used syringes lying in 
hospital yards, entranceways to buildings, squares and streets of 
Tbilisi. Deputy Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs Davit 
Meskhishvili destroyed the needles with an asphalt roller on June 26.

"This day is against drugs, so we are expressing our feelings about 
this problem in this way. Maybe it is a bit extreme, but society 
should understand that to be a drug addict is very shameful," stated 
Meskhishvili.

Meskhishvili said the ministry is implementing a special program for 
recovering drug addicts, calling upon all anti-drug organizations to 
carry out joint preventive measures against the problem.

On June 26, the Institute of Narcology and NGOs held a seminar at the 
hotel Sheraton Metekhi where they discussed the new law prepared by 
the initiative group of the Health Ministry.

According to the new law, a person addicted to drugs should be 
recognized not as a criminal, but as an ill person in need of medical 
treatment. Drug users will only have to pay a fee and the money paid 
by them will go towards treatment of other drug addicts. Currently, a 
version of the bill is being considered in parliament.

According to Deputy Director of the Centre for Disease and Public 
Health in the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs and head 
of the program Methadone Akaki Gamkrelidze, in 2007 the government 
plans to spend GEL 650 000 for the prevention and struggle against 
drug addiction out of which GEL 250 000 will be spent on the 
treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. But he is concerned 
this isn't enough considering the size of the problem in Georgia.

"Drug addiction is a very serious problem in Georgia. There are many 
drug users. 35 000 users and drug addicts have been registered in 
Georgia. But we suggest that from 250 000 to 300 000 young people use 
drugs," Gamkrelidze noted.

Some famous public figures attended a solidarity action at the cafe 
Tan Tzaighe (Take It with You) on June 25. Movie actors, directors, 
athletes and the anti-drug fund of the Patriarchate as well as other 
public figures participated in the event.

Clips from a new documentary Without Comments were shown to stimulate 
discussion about the problem of drug addiction in Georgia. This film 
which will premier in the fall in Tbilisi, tells a story dealing with 
the serious issues of drug addiction, drug dealers and young drug users.

"Today me and my friends decided to get together and give those 
struggling with drug addiction motivation to live a healthy 
lifestyle," said owner of the cafe, and Georgian TV personality Duta 
Skhirtladze.

Giorgi Arsanidze, Olympic champion, attended the event saying 
nowadays many young people are becoming addicted to drugs, which is a 
real catastrophe.

"I see a lot of people of my generation using drugs and becoming 
addicted . I think that especially our religion will help these 
people a lot, which says that this is shameful and a sin," stated Arsanidze.

Another film dealing with the theme of drug addiction called 
Subordination premiered at the Amirani Theater in Tbilisi on June 21. 
The name of the film is a play on the name of the drug of choice in 
Georgia-Subutex.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman