About 800 primary drug users are recorded in Moldova annually. Contacted by IPN, Iurii Bucinschi, vice director for consultative medical services and organizational management at the National Narcological Dispensary, said the number of teens who take drugs has decreased during the past few years. The thematic lessons held in schools to raise awareness of the danger of taking drugs also have a positive influence.
But the number of drug users among persons able to work has increased. The ratio of men to women who take drugs is of 75% : 25%.
Iurii Bucinschi said the humbler of synthetic drugs, such as Ecstasy, which are used by beginner users, has also risen. These swiftly increase dependence on narcotics. Currently, about 500 drug users are receiving treatment with methadone that is prescribed as a substitute to treat opioid dependence, while 625 are treated with morphine. About 12,000 persons are under medical supervision as drug addicts.
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is marked annually on June 26. Drug taking is associated with the worsening of the state of health and infection with different communicable diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and mental disorders.
