PDF (Lessons learned in drug abuse prevention: a global review)

NATIONAL
HIV/AIDS/STI/Drug Abuse Prevention Amongst Youth
in Turkmenistan
REGION:
Central Asian and
Transcaucasian Countries
COUNTRY: Turkmenistan
Organisation: UNDP
(UNAIDS)
TARGET GROUPS:
● Youth (14-25 years)
● Sex workers
● Prisoners
● Media/Government
SETTINGS:
● Multiple settings
IMPLEMENTING AGENTS:
● UN Theme Group on
HIV/AIDS
● Civic organisations
● National experts
● Researchers
PROJECT PURPOSE:
Protecting the health of youth
through a multi-secoral
programme
COST: US $133,500 for 30
months
DURATION: 30 months
A training workshop in the use of a gender sensitive approach in drug abuse prevention.
Background:
The National Programme on Health, issued by the President of Turkmenistan in 1995,
has a strong focus on rendering efficient preventive activities as far as the overall health
of the population is concerned. HIV/AIDS and drug abuse are priority areas of the programme.
In 1999, the State Programme on Drug Enforcement was adopted, and in
2001 the 'National Action Plan on Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking and Assistance to
Drug Addicts' was signed; this is to be implemented over the next four years.
Over the last few years, the drug situation in Turkmenistan has worsened. Drug abuse
rates continue to be high: whilst drug abuse rates were at 13.2 out of 100,000 in
1995, in 1998 the figure was 52.7 out of 100,000. 1 In 1999, approximately 5,800 drug
addicts were officially registered in drug abuse hospitals; but it is expected that a large
number of drug users avoid visiting medical specialists, and therefore addiction rates
are much higher. Males make up 95% of all drug users.
One specific feature of the use of narcotic substances in Turkmenistan is the predominance
of opiates and hemp preparations. There is recent evidence that the range of
narcotics used has expanded to include synthetic stimulants and cocaine, and that
injection use of morphine, including its use by women, is becoming more common in
urban areas. 2 Turkmenistan has services relating to HIV/AIDS and drug abuse in the
capital and in regional centres, but there is a need to establish such services in rural
areas to reach more people.
40% of the population in Turkmenistan is under the age of 14. Surveys have shown
that, on average, 20% of adolescents aged 14-16 smoke cigarettes 2 As well as smoking
tobacco, people use nas (specially prepared tobacco that is placed under the tongue or
behind the cheek), the consumption of which is most widespread in rural areas. This
has caused an increased incidence of cancer of the mouth 2
58 Sources: 1 As communicated by the organisation
2 WHO. 2000. Highlights on Health in Turkmenistan.(www.euro.who.int)