STATE-SPONSORED WEB SITE TAKES WAR ON DRUGS ONLINE

The government has taken the fight against drugs to the Internet with
www.narkotiki.ru.

"Our web site must play the role of collective agitator and organizer ...
to help the young generation, which is, unfortunately, the most at-risk
group," says the web site, which is financially supported by the Press
Ministry.

The front page is devoted to breaking news in the fight against drugs,
featuring the Interior Ministry's latest anti-narcotics operations. It also
announces scheduled television programs devoted to the drug problem.

With Windows Media Player, visitors to the site can download material from
the Video section.

The Health section features the Specialist's Office, where Dr. Vladimir
Lunyanov, a psychologist and drug addiction specialist, answers questions
from readers. Also featured in Health is an interview with Alexei
Nadezhdin, director of the Health Ministry's department devoted to children.

The Expert subsection features an article on psychotherapy as a way of
healing drug addicts, while the Address subsection lists clinics in various
cities where addicts can go for help.

The Culture section features works of art devoted to fighting drugs,
including an anti-narcotics drawing contest for children. The pictures are
hardly uplifting -- one child's drawing shows a demonic skull filled with
blood and drug paraphernalia, while a more psychedelic piece features a
syringe labeled "death" floating in front of a rainbow and the sun.

Also featured in Culture is an interview with Shura, a Russian pop star who
recently returned from drug treatment. Who helped him recover from drug
addiction? "Mom," he says. "She arrived from Novosibirsk, put me in a
clinic and lived together with me."