The Russian government has recognised a growing use of illicit drugs as one of the major threats to the health of the nation.
In spite of different measures which are constantly being taken at the national and international levels, development of the drug situation in the country does not give us a reason for optimism.
Important trends and tendencies are as follows:

• Growing illicit drug use in the society along with drug connected crimes.
• The geographic area of drug use is widening both through traditionally drug associated regions (bordering with Central Asiatic countries) to other regions and from big cities to rural areas. There is no region that lately does not face this problem.
• A growing understanding in the society that the Russian drug situation is not isolated from the world drug situation. International connections give both positive and negative experiences. A tendency shown by several countries towards legalisation of some illicit drugs (mainly cannabis) is not supported by the Russian state.
• From a demographic perspective, during the past 7 years there have been significant changes in age and sexual distribution of drug users. Average age of teenage drug abusers have come down from 16-17 years old to 13-14 years old. Number of women using drug and psychotropic substances has increased 6-7 times.
• New social groups are being involved in illicit drug use and abuse. If some years ago drug abusers were mostly presented by marginalised social groups, now they are joined by groups with higher social status (better educational, economic and family circumstances).
• The Russian society is not perceiving nor comprehending the growing problem of drug dependence as a real social conflict/social problem. Different agencies such as the state, public organisations, economic structures do not have a common understanding nor a common action plan. Therefore they cannot effectively co-operate in combating illicit drugs. There is also a lack of knowledge on all levels of the society in regard to properties and effects of narcotics and psychotropic substances.

 
 
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