Russia to introduce mandatory treatment for drug addicts

Moscow, June 26 (UNI) Russia plans to introduce soon mandatory medical treatment for drug addicts, which was cancelled by the State Duma, the lower house of state parliament, in December 2003.

''This measure could be introduced in 2007 or early next year,'' spokesman for the Russian Federal Drug Control Service Lt Gen Alexander Mikhailov said today.

''The issue is being debated in parliament and is on our Service's agenda,'' Mr Mikhailov told Interfax news agency on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.

He said there were six million drug addicts in Russia and 15 million Russian citizens had tried illicit drugs at least once.

About 100,000 people die of drug overdose in Russia every year, the Service reported.

Stressing that this measure should be carefully thought out, Mr Mikhailov expressed the hope that the mandatory medical treatment will save many lives.

''There are nuances. We live in a law-based state and this measure, if taken, must not abuse human rights. An effective network of rehabilitation centers must be formed for drug users,'' he said.

Human rights groups have criticized the planned forced medical treatment for drug addicts.

''The idea of introducing mandatory treatment for drug users has little sense,'' said Lyudmila Alexeyeva, the head of Moscow's Helsinki Group.

Ms Alexeyeva said the officially proposed measure could revive the Soviet-era system of forced medical treatment.

''According to official statistics, there are some 30,000 registered drug addicts in Moscow, while experts suggest there may be as many as 1.5 million,'' the director of the Moscow drug research centre Yevgeny Bryun told RIA Novosti news agency.

''Last year, 22,300 Muscovites were receiving regular medical check ups, and another 7,000 were undergoing preventive treatment,'' he said.

He added the number of registered drug addicts in the city, which has a population of 11 million, had increased tenfold since 1991.

''The situation is getting worse, and I do not know what the results for 2007 will be,'' Mr Bryun said.

UNI