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Marina Nikolova

Profits of criminal networks for distribution of drugs are so great that often exceed the financial resources allocated by the state to fight drugs. In some cases, these organizations have built drug empires and have political power and authority, which facilitates corruption to spread and to enmesh the departments formed to control and fight illegal drug distribution.

Criminal organizations have access to many advanced technologies and a lot of money, allowing them to quickly adapt to new tactics for drug control at the borders and to take  advantage of the weak points of the departments concerned.

"Nothing has so disastrous consequences on the efforts to fight illegal distribution of drugs as the successful acts of criminal organizations to intimidate and corrupt state officers," said Hamid Gotse, president of the International Commission for Drug Control.

Corruption and power of criminal organizations was the main subject and concern on which the director of the centre for treatment of drug addicts in Athens Dr. Charalampos Poulopoulos emphasized during the presentation of the annual report of the International Commission for Drug Control.

It is noted in the report of the International Commission that a new generation of drugs (designer drugs) develops very quickly so that the control systems can not detect them. This happens when the molecular structure of controlled substances is slightly changed which results in a new drug with similar effects but it can not be detected by national and international control systems. Mephedrone, which is among the most popular, is distributed online or even in shops, sometimes marketed as salt water or plant fertilizer.

On the other hand, painkillers are not available for 80% of world population. "90% of legitimate drugs are consumed by 10% of the population worldwide and especially in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and some European countries," said the director of the Therapy Centre for Dependant Individuals, Dr. Charalampos Poulopoulos.

The results of the report by various countries and continents are:

USA
USA remains the largest market for illicit drugs worldwide. 38 million people in America or 15.1% of the population over the age of 12 have tried drugs, according to 2009 data. The most widely used remains cannabis, and the second with an upward trend in the number of consumers are prescribed drugs, especially analgetic opiates.  

Africa
The illicit trade of cocaine in Africa destined to Europe is increasing again, according to the report of the International Commission. In Africa, cannabis is the drug that is most produced, distributed and used. Alarming is the news that the annual drug use among people aged between 15 and 64 years is in the range of 5-10%, which is twice as much as the percentage in the world. Morocco continues to be one of the largest producers of cannabis, although the area of plantations is much smaller now.

Dangerous to the public health in Africa is the easy access of people to medicines which are imitations of the originals and are sold without a prescription, even on the street.

Asia
Methamphetamine and heroin are the widest spread illicit substances on the continent.

The risk of AIDS due to injecting drugs remains high in East and Southeast Asia.

The data show that addicts in China reached around 1 million people.

India remains the main source of psychotropic substances distributed through illegal pharmacies online.

Opium production in Afgnistan has decreased by half due to diseased plants, although the size of the cultivated area is the same as before. For several years, Afgnistan has been experiencing problems for the increasing number of people who use drugs - opium and heroin.

Neighboring Iran remains the country with the highest percentage of people who use opiates in the world.

Europe
The most popular drug in Europe remains hashish, and secondly - cocaine. In many countries, the use of cannabis and ecstasy has declined or at least has not increased, but in England, Denmark and Spain cocaine may have replaced the ecstasy.

The highest percentage of drug addicts is in Russia where they are believed to be around 1.6 to 1.8 million people. Eastern Europe is even one of the few regions in the world where the spread of AIDS has increased and the typical example is Ukraine, where 1.6 percent of adults are infected.
 
"Infrastructure" and networks in the Balkan countries are used increasingly for cocaine distribution, according to Interpol and more citizens of Balkan countries are involved in these networks of cocaine. As far as the distribution methods are concerned, traffickers have devised to put the cocaine in garments, plastic products and candles from which it is extracted in illegal laboratories.

Greece
In Greece the percentage of people who use cannabis and cocaine is the lowest in Europe. On the other hand, cases in which police finds and confiscates drugs have increased.

The mayors of more than 20 regions in the country, including Rhodes, Navplio, Mesolongi, Thebes, Livadia, Igoumenitsa, Preveza, Florina, Kozani, Gravena, Orestiada have applied several years ago treatment centres for drug addicts to be opened. The therapy centre in Athens has launched treatment programmes in the country - in Chania, Mytilene, Yanena and Kalamata.

There are two major problems that employees and society have to cope with - the integration of prisoners at liberty and reintegration of healed drug addicts into society. Half of the prisoners are drug addicts and there is still a lot to do to provide them all with access to consultations within the prisons, said the president of the therapy centre in Athens Gerasimos Notaras during a press conference where the report of the International Organization for Drug Control at the UN was presented.

According to research data, if a prisoner at liberty is not given the opportunity to integrate into society he will be back in prison after a year. Again, according to studies in America, for every dollar spent on integration and treatment $15 are saved that otherwise would be spent for health facilities and prisons. The task to return to normal life becomes even more difficult due to the economic crisis in Greece and the lack of jobs.  
 
The plan of the therapy centre in Athens is to develop infrastructure in the country and carry out medical programmes that have been launched in some cities already. To continue the development of the programme for alcoholic and gambling addicts as many people have applied to join it. The centre plans to open clinics in Exarchia and centre for psychological assistance to immigrants in Agos Pandeleymonas.

It is planned therapy stations to be opened in buildings owned by the centre, but they need repair. They are in areas where a large number of addicts gather like Omonia, Victoria Square, Agios Pandeleymonas. It is necessary the centre to be well staffed for the street programmes as most of the people who need treatment will not go to the centres themselves, noted Notaras.

The therapy centre has developed programmes for prisons to psychologically advise and support the men prisoners in Diavata and launched a programme for women prisoners in Eleon. The condition necessary for the development of programmes is the 8% already cut from the total budget for the centre granted annually by the state to be restored. Furthermore, an additional subsidy of around 2 million euro is needed for 2011 in order the programmes to be developed, Notaras said. It is imperative 90 people to be recruited this year to cover the needs of medical staff. New employees have not been appointed since 2006, said the president of the centre, and many are those who have left ever since.