HEROIN DEATH 'A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME'

HEROIN addicts are increasing in number by the day, and nearly 60 per cent
of drug users in Cyprus now are between the ages of 19 and 30.

The problem is that the more people use heroin, the more will overdose. In
fact, the death of a 21-year-old suspected of overdosing on heroin on
Wednesday is just one of many deaths to come, anti-drug activists warned
yesterday.

"It is becoming common for addicts to be taken to hospital after overdosing
on heroin," said Dr Kyriakos Veresies, scientific director for the Centre
for Education about Drugs and Treatment of Drug Addicted Persons (KENTHEA).
"The reason is because more people are using and so there are more
emergency incidents."

But when asked how many lives were lost due to drug-related deaths,
Veresies said there was no "real record" to determine the number.

"Only the police record drug-related deaths. But because they only consider
overdoses to be drug deaths and do not record indirect related deaths such
as suicides, the numbers do not paint an accurate picture of the
situation," he explained.

"Therefore the true numbers are probably quite a bit higher."

Police were yesterday unavailable for comment on the matter.

At present the number one drug used in Cyprus is still cannabis, said
Veresies. Cocaine follows by a close second and heroin comes in third place.

"Cocaine is hugely popular in Cyprus because it is cheaper than heroin.
This is the only country in the world where this is so and I believe drug
pushers know what they are doing by keeping the prices lower," said Veresies.

According to him, it is easier to take the leap from cocaine to heroin,
rather than cannabis to heroin.

"Cocaine is the link. It is a powder drug, but, if snorted, it is not
biologically addictive, unlike heroin - another powder - which is. The
problem is once people start using one form of powder drug - addictive or
not - it is easier to try another. And once people start using heroin they
become addicted and the drug dealer has found himself a permanent client."

Another problem is that a lot of addicts are not injecting pure heroin.
"Dealers rarely sell pure heroin. Instead only 30 per cent of the drug is
actually heroin. The remaining 70 per cent could be anything from powder or
flour, to traces of coffee. This is extremely dangerous as it poisons users
when it enters their bloodstream and sometimes leads to death," he said.

"I have been trying to highlight the drug problem for over 10 years," he
said. "In 1991 we carried out a study and found that 17 per cent of
students were vulnerable to drug addiction. At the time, we tried to
implement prevention methods before the problem got out of hand, but it was
not publicised enough. Now, instead of fighting for prevention, we're
forced to struggle with treatment methods because the problem has come into
our homes."

Drug addiction is a social problem that has developed over the years, he
said. Low self-esteem, family problems and living in a material society
contribute to the increase in the number of addicts.

"People want easy solutions to their problems and no longer have any real
values. They think drugs will be the answer, when it's not," said Veresies.

Although the consequences on society as a whole were not yet evident, they
would affect us all, he warned. "A large portion of tomorrow's workforce
will not be able to hold down a job because of their addiction. Crime rates
will therefore definitely increase as users try to find money to support
their habit."

In fact, according to police crime has already increased with more and more
car break-ins and burglaries being carried out by addicts desperate for cash.

In the past, overdose victims were rushed to hospital for treatment and
discharged, he said. They were not committed for detoxification or given
compulsory psychological support. Now, users can be admitted to Limassol
hospital for detoxification, where they receive medication to help them
overcome their addiction. During their treatment they also receive counselling.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a rehabilitation centre opened in Deftera village in
the Nicosia district. The centre, 'Therapeftiko Spiti Pixida' offers
drug-free therapy for users and has room for 10 patients. It is operated by
Veresies, a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a social worker and
psychiatric nurses, and acts like a family for its patients.

"Drug addicts come to us follow an outpatient programme for one month. If
after that time they show they are committed to the programme and want to
get better they are admitted for inpatient therapy for three months. After
that time they continue to receive support on an out-patient basis," he said.

Today marks the beginning of the 10th annual KENTHEA conference. This
year's slogan is 'Cyprus Against Addiction' and the conference has been
organised in collaboration with the Cyprus University and the Cyprus Youth
Group. The three-day convention, which is open to the public, is being held
at the University of Cyprus and takes places between 9am and 5pm. Tomorrow
there will be a series of 10 drug-related workshops, including, for the
first time, one on early detection for general practitioners and
pharmacists, said Veresies.