From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Jun 04 2002 - 09:52:00 EDT
Armenian expert comments on drug addition, social problems in country
Text of Narine Grigoryan report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkar on 1 June
entitled "A disease which gives birth to criminality"
An interview with Dr Mkrtich Khachatryan, the deputy head of the
Narcological Centre and an expert in narcology .
[Mkrtich Khachatryan] I think there is a growth in the number of drug
addicts in Armenia, though official data do not show this trend. Many young
people are addicted. If in the past the average age of drug addicts was
25-30, today it is less than that. Today, the number of the registered drug
addicts in Armenia is 200, which is ridiculous. This number should be
multiplied 7-10 times and then we will have the real number of drug
addicts. The increase in the number of drug addicts in our country has
several reasons. First, after the collapse of the USSR, our roads to
foreign countries were opened and Armenia became a transit country between
the East and the West. The social state of the people is another reason,
besides, there is a desire to fill the psychological gap. The young men
have nothing to do and the sources of negative information have increased:
like the American films and etc. After the earthquake and during the last
10-12 years many families left Armenia and settled in Russia. Today, they
have returned and some of them with problems as their children, who lived
in Russia, have become drug addicts.
[Ayots Ashkhar correspondent] The narcological clinic, which is a public
medical organization is to deal with drug addicts of the republic. What is
the state of the clinic?
[Khachatryan] During the last 8-10 years, the medical staff have been very
busy because the number of drug addicts has increased in our country.
Today, we treat those who use heroin, which is considered the strongest
drug in the world. We also deal with people who inhale clue. This problem
is widespread in Russia.
[Correspondent] I wonder what social classes use drugs? Sometimes they say
that drug is a luxury and is for those who have money.
[Khachatryan] Earlier drug addiction and some diseases (for example
tuberculosis) were thought to be rooted in social problems and considered
diseases of prisons. Today, there is a distinction. Drug addiction is a
very expensive pleasure, drugs are not free and it is difficult to get
them. Those who have money and those who do not, all suffer from drug
addiction. But if we compare, it can be said that the percentage of those
who have money is higher. I would like to say that in our country drug
addiction and pushing drugs are closely linked. It is impossible to see a
man who sells drugs not being a drug addict himself.
[Correspondent] What is the average age of drug addicts?
[Khachatryan] Some 500-600 persons are under prophylactic observation in
Yerevan. Here, the following indices were registered: two people are 15-16
years old, 8 are 18-19, 415 are 20-39, 133 are 40-50 and two people were
more then 60. In fact, the number of people between 20 and 29 is the
highest. Nine women are under the prophylactic observation.
[Correspondent] How are drug addicts taken to the clinic, by force or
persuasion?
[Khachatryan] Hospitalization is badly organized. The number of those who
come willingly is very low, they are scared that they may be noticed by the
law-enforcement agencies. Certainly, there is a mutual cooperation with the
Ministry of Internal Affairs, but if need be, we provide confidential
treatment to addicts. Many of the drug addicts do not come to hospital
because of poor health.
[Correspondent] Is there an argument between you and the law-enforcement
agencies about the definition of drug addiction whether it is a disease or
a crime?
[Khachatryan] Yes there is. A doctor knows the problem better than a an
employee of the law-enforcement agencies. First, it is a social problem and
only after that, it is a crime or a disease which gives birth to crime. One
should not unequivocally say that a man who suffers from drug addiction, is
a criminal. In this connection, the current laws contradict each other.
Unlike Armenia, in other countries all crimes are not directly linked to
drug addiction. However, there is a link between addiction and pushing
drugs. There are also countries where addicts face harsh punishment. It
should be noted that there is also compulsory treatment in some countries.
Drug addicts should be given the opportunity for treatment, not once or
twice during a short period as is the case in our country, but several
times. They should be under a doctor's observation for a long period of
time, pass stages of rehabilitation, only after that they should be made
answerable. In Armenia, only the first stage is implemented. I think there
should a law on drug addiction. They adopted a law on AIDS, whereas drug
addiction is the first source of AIDS.
Source: Ayots Ashkar, Yerevan, in Armenian 1 Jun 02 p13
BBC Mon TCU 010602 ha/ah
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