212 USE MOSCOW HOT LINE FOR CONFIDENTIAL CALLS ON DRUGS

MOSCOW, April 25 (Itar-Tass) - A total of 212 people used the
telephone hot line for confidential calls on the drug abuse problem
over two weeks of the line's existence in Moscow, sources at the city
health committee told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

Almost half of the callers inquired about the drug addicts treatment
at state and non-state medical institutions and some 50 people asked
about medical and psychological consequences of the drug abuse. Five
callers reported on the illegal drug trafficking and four callers
were given emergency medical and psychological aid.

Many Muscovites face the drug abuse by their near and do not have
sufficient information on measures to be taken and institutions to be
turned to for help, Yevgeny Bryun, a line organizer and the Director
of the Moscow Scientific- Practical Center on Narcotic Drugs, said.

"The hot line aims to help people facing the drug abuse problem. It is
open to anonymous calls of drug addicts and those who want to help
their children, relatives or friends to win over the drug
dependence," he said.