How tiny Albania became the continent’s drug trafficking headquarters. What is the best prevention policy?

Thursday, 24 November, 2022 - 13:20 to 14:50

Abstract

Albania, a small country, with a lot of drug related problems, a few helping facilities, and lack of good information and cooperation. But what is doing Albania concerning international drug supply reduction..? What is Albanian drug Policy? Despite several country differences, the policy itself aim to include 5 characteristic as domestic law enforcement, international supply-side reduction, treatment, prevention and harm reduction. Even if prevention is an important pillar in the drug war, a little is done in my country. One example, is the project 'Youth Education and Awareness and Reducing Drug Demand and other Harmful Substances', supported by ICITAP and the US Embassy in Several schools of Tirana. But, unfortunately, nothing is done the last years about drug demand reduction or harm reduction. Any new facility for Methadone maintenance treatment. Buprenorphine treatment is very expensive for the Albanian budget and it is paid from the drug user (2 mg Buprenorphine costs 4 euro). Well-structured psychological support in Drug use field are still lacking. Still missing the gender specific programs. Cannabis is the most abused drug in Albania. While in many countries, cannabis use is legalized, in Albania round 95% of Drug Law Offences in 2015 were classified as cultivation and sale of illicit drugs, mainly cannabis. Cultivation of cannabis plants may lead to 5-7 years of imprisonment. If the Albanian policy have to be evidence based, should our policy makers take in consideration the legalization of medical cannabis in many countries? Should they analyze the medical and financial benefits toward the probable harms related to cannabis legalization, like several country do? Too many questions still to be answered.

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