Combating drug use in Ida Virumaa

NARVA - Drug use in Estonia's northeast is among the highest in the
country, according to Social Ministry statistics, and one of the main
reasons why a group of European experts and their Estonian counterparts
met here on May 19 to discuss strategies to get kids off drugs.

Mayor Eldar Efendiev opened up the one-day event that drew in about 75
people, from health care workers and city employees to parents and
athletic directors.

The aim of the conference was to develop strategies for the city to
curb drug abuse. Conference participants blamed the high number of drug
users in the area on high unemployment, insufficient information about
drugs and the lack of other diversions, such as after-school sports.

According to government statistics, around 25 percent of youths in
Ida-Viru county have consumed drugs at least once, making it the most
at-risk area of the country. In Tallinn, 23 percent of youths admit to
having tried some kind of illegal drug.

Although the Narva region, with a predominantly Russian-speaking
population, is considered a hot-spot for drug abuse-and one reason
public opinion tends to think the drug problem in Estonia is a "Russian
problem"-the consumption of drugs in Estonia since 1995 has increased
more among Estonians than non-Estonians, according to a Social Ministry
study released in March.

"They need more information about drugs," said John Slade, head of the
Anti-Drugs in Schools project and organizer of the conference. "Parents
and teachers can't cope without having more information."

Thomas Hallberg, director of the European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD),
distributed leaflets and other books in Russian about different types
of drugs and the health implications of over-consumption.

Hallberg, of Sweden, urged the community of Narva to respond
pro-actively to stop drug addiction.