Russia Starts to Admit Heroin Problem

Some blame West's failures in Afghanistan; others see bad policy

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 11, 2009 10:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – With an estimated 2 million drug addicts in Russia—about one in 50 adults—the nation is finally admitting it has a problem. One ally of PM Vladimir Putin faults the West’s anti-terror efforts in nearby Afghanistan for allowing poppy cultivation to bloom; others say Russia’s sweep-it-under-the-rug policies make things worse, the Independent reports.

“The Russian strategy is to stifle serious debate about the problem and demonize drug users,” says one activist, explaining why addicts don’t get treatment. And with needle-exchange programs frowned upon, heroin use looks to be behind the spread of other deadly epidemics like HIV/AIDS.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

Russia uses more heroin than any other country, according to the nation's anti-drug group. (©Mr. Theklan)

Russian drug policy encourages police to arrest former addicts asking for help in kicking their habit; methadone treatment is banned. (©Pingu1963)

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The goal is not to help people suffering with addiction but to identify them, and then punish them. No country in the world has ever been able to deal with its drug problems in this way. - Dasha Ocheret, of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network in Moscow

If there are no poppies, there is no drugs traffic. Thank goodness politicians in the West are beginning to admit the whole war on terror was ill-judged.
- Viktor Ivanov, Russia's top anti-drug official and close associate of Vladimir Putin

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COMMENTS

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Showing 2 of 2 comments

Guest

Mar 27, 2009 1:23 AM CDT

Marijuana has always been a part of american culture. Hell, marijuana is just as American as apple pie and Baseball on a clear summer night. Pot growing in the US goes all the way back to colonial times. Even heralded leaders like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln both enjoyed smoking Marijuana. It has only been since the 1930's that America has had this stigmatism about pot, but as you can see, that issue is starting to die off, in more ways then one.

northeast

Mar 11, 2009 3:41 AM CDT

I'm sure that a prolonged occupation of the world's largest heroin producer probably didn't help matters either. We left Vietnam with a national marijuana problem, and you left Afghanistan with your heroin issues.

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Russia Starts to Admit Heroin Problem