126,000 underage Russians are registered at drug treatment centers throughout Russia, according to official statistics. The actual number is much higher.
Photo: Yury Martyanov
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Russian Senators to Put All Teenage Drug Addicts to Sick-Beds
The Russian Federation Council has drawn up amendments to anti-drug law to provide teenagers aged up to 18 with compulsory drug treatment. The drafters are convinced that the measure will help to battle drug abuse. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies may be able to earn some $29 million from medicine sales for state-funded compulsory treatment programs.
Kommersant has got hold of amendments to the federal law on drug abuse that suggest raising the age for drug addicts to be sent for compulsory treatment from 16 to 18 years.
Under Russian laws, a drug addict who does not represent a danger to the society can be hospitalized only with his own consent. Under 16-year olds, however, are taken to hospital in case their parents agree. “We are just trying to take care of children who are not entitled to account for themselves,” Senator Lyudmila Narusova explained to Kommersant.
The Russian Health Protection Service welcomes the initiative. 126,000 underage Russians are registered at drug treatment centers throughout Russia, according to official statistics. The actual number of young drug addicts is impossible to calculate, doctors say. Officials pledge that hospitals will manage to cope with an increase in the number of patients.
Pharmaceutical companies will gain higher profits if the amendments are adopted. As little as 2,500 Russians aged from 16 to 18 are registered at drug treatment centers. Doctors admit, though, that the actual number is 20 times as high. As a six-month treatment costs from $550 to $600, the medicine producers may expect to reap extra $28-30 million.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Jan. 26, 2007
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