Report on the Drug Situation 2010 - Bundesministerium für ...

Prevention
The trend towards drawing up and implementing standardised prevention programmes
has continued. Parallel to this, specific activities have been pursued to address children
and young people for whom the risk of addiction is elevated, and proven programmes
have been expanded to include additional target groups. For instance, now interventions
in school settings more often aim at students in lower secondary schools and
polytechnic schools. Moderated talks have been organised in private contexts in order
to get into contact with parents who cannot easily be addressed otherwise. New
activities undertaken in the reporting period have focused on young people taking part
in programmes of the Public Employment Service, as well as early detection and early
intervention.
Problem Drug Use
According to the most recent prevalence estimates of problem drug use (which in
Austria primarily means poly-drug use with opioids), in Austria the number of problem
drug users was between 25 000 and 37 000 in 2009. Compared to other data, this
permits the conclusion that the prevalence rates have remained at similar levels in
recent years. Another estimate indicates between 12 5000 and 18 500 problem drug
users in Austria, with injecting as their preferred mode of administration.
Drug-related Treatment: Treatment Demand and Treatment Availability
As the number of doctors delivering opioid substitution treatment has shown a
decline, the supply situation has become very critical in several regions. At provincial
level, remuneration agreements have been concluded and restructuring measures
adopted in order to improve the situation, which has not always had the desired effect,
however. While the amendment to the Narcotic Drugs Decree adopted in December
2009 has undoubtedly increased the acceptance of the regulations for opioid
substitution treatment, it will not be clear before the end of 2010 whether this has
improved the motivation of established doctors to deliver opioid substitution treatment.
Generally speaking, a trend towards integrated addiction treatment and support
services as well as individualised treatment has shown. Massive deficits are still found
with regard to services for older drug users as well as young people, in particular in
the field of inpatient treatment.
Recent data from treatment services confirm that opioids continue to predominate as
primary drugs and that a significant share of clients tends to snort opioids when they
start to use these substances. Further analyses of gender differences show that
women, contrary to several sources, are not underrepresented in drug support and
treatment centres. For women, the risk of developing patterns of problem drug use
IV © GÖG/ÖBIG, <strong>Report</strong> on the Drug Situation 2010