NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS SEEKING HELP IS ON THE RISE

AROUND ten people a year are dying as a direct result of a drug
overdose, while the number of people seeking treatment for substance
abuse is rising.

"We place a great deal of importance on this issue. It is a priority
for everyone, not just the Health Ministry, to combat the drug
phenomenon in Cyprus," said Health Minister Christos Patsalides
speaking at a press conference yesterday ahead of World Drug Day today.

The Cyprus Anti-Drugs Council (ASK) of which Patsalides is
president, presented its National Drug Strategy for 2009-2012, which
hopes to tackle drug abuse by setting "realistic goals which respond
to the real needs of substance dependent people in Cyprus".

The strategy is based on scientific evidence provided by the Cyprus
Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EKTEPN), collected
from general population studies on illicit drugs in Cyprus over the
past five years.

According to EKTERN's director Neoclis Georgiades, the number of
users seeking treatment is rising, with 29 percent of the users that
sought treatment (641 users) in 2008 reporting cannabis as the main
substance of abuse, making it the second most frequently reported
substance after heroin.,

"Unlike other European countries, there are no specialised
therapeutic programmes here for cannabis users which respond to
their particular needs," he said.

From 2004 to 2009, 98 deaths due to drug use have been recorded in
Cyprus (62 direct and 36 indirect). "Every year, there are about 10
deaths caused directly by drug overdose," he said.

Patsalides noted that the findings show that cannabis is the most
commonly distributed drug in Cyprus and that "the tendency for
trying cannabis is most intense amongst the ages of 18-22".

In 2008 there were 173 arrests relating to illegal substances, the
majority related to cannabis, with 81 percent of those arrested
being under the age of 29 according to EKTEPN.

"Compared to 2006, the proportion of the population mentioning
cannabis use in the previous month has almost doubled, from 2.1 to
4.3 percent in 2009," said Georgiades, noting that these numbers
mostly indicate pre-existing users. "Although it has doubled, there
is also an optimistic message in that we are seeing fewer and fewer
new users emerge."

However Georgiades noted that the European trend is towards
synthetic drugs like amphetamines and ecstasy, and that new
substances are continually emerging. "In 2008, 13 new psychosomatic
substances appeared in Europe, almost doubling to 24 in 2009."

The National Strategy for Drugs covers areas of prevention,
treatment and social re-integration, as well as reducing harm and supply.

"The appointment of officials in the ministries to promote actions
of the plan is an important aspect of the strategy and is underway,"
said ASK Executive Secretary Tonia Bayada.

Bayada outlined that the priorities for prevention lie in part in
the education system, and for treatment in the securing of
continuing after care and accessibility to treatment.