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The president and ministries of Health, Internal Affairs,
and Drug Control Agency, have taken new initiatives this year
to fight the drug problem, especially trafficking. Temirtau
City Council has also started a revision of the criminal code
to ensure that the law enforcement community focuses on supply
reduction rather than arresting drug users.
Trafficked drugs travel into Kyrgyzstan from Tajikistan and
out to neighboring countries. The number of drug users may
be seven times those registered, 3,791. While the official
number has dropped, all other signs show an increase, especially
in injecting drug users.
Some officials consider Tajikistan a trans-shipment country
for illicit drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and beyond. The
border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, more than 1000
kilometers long and including the river Pyanj, is difficult
for the drug enforcement agency to monitor, control, and seize
drugs.
The Forum featured:
Director, AIDS Program, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center,
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians
and Surgeons, Columbia University. Following is Dr. Dobkin's
contribution to the Forum.
Director, International Harm Reduction Development program
of the Open Society Institute, NY. Following is Ms. Malinowska-Sempruch's
contribution to the Forum.
Programme Development Officer - Europe, Country Programme
and Planning Development Department UNAIDS Secretariat, Geneva.
Following is Mr. Mikkelsen's contribution to the Forum.
Psychiatrist and narcologist. Technical Advisor for Central
Asia for the International Harm Reduction Development program
of the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan. Following is Dr. Vassilenko's
contribution to the Forum.
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