Synthetic drugs causing addiction are on the rise in Europe, where 52 new substances were identified in 2021, says Christos Minas, President of the Cyprus National Addictions Authority (NAAC), while other organisations also ring the bell for a wide range of substances that are readily accessible to teenageres.
On the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, marked on June 26, Mina acknowledges this as a multifaceted problem and says that the vision of NAAC is for “children and young people, as well as for all people in Cyprus, to have access to scientifically-staffed services for prevention, treatment, damage control and social support” according to an announcement released by NAAC.
Kenthea, the Centre of Education About Drugs & Treatment of Drug Addicted Person, stresses in a separate announcement the increasingly large range of substances which are available for use among teenagers, warning about the course of events in the years to come.
Also, it lists a series of suggestions, in order to build more effective practices against drug addiction, such as an intensive program of mobilization and counseling for rehab within the Athalassa Hospital, and a larger budget for NGOs that run treatment programs.
The Ministry of Health also acknowledges drug addiction as a personal and public health issue and stresses the effects on many levels of the society.
“We invest in social policies against drug addiction, according to European standards and the needs of our country”, says the Ministry in an announcement and adds that WHO puts emphasis on addressing addiction following the unprecedented health and humanitarian crises in the world. This calls for “a universal mobilization and coordinated efforts” the Ministry concludes.
Source: Cyprus News Agency