Armenia to develop database of individuals involved in use or  trafficking of narcotic drugs

ArmInfo. The strategic plan for Combating Non-Medical Use and Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances for the years  2025-2027 has been  developed in Armenia. The provisions of the document were discussed  at a meeting chaired by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

According to the press service of the RA government, Minister of  Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan noted in her speech that the  strategic plan has gone through numerous stages of development and,  in essence, it is planned that it will be a single document that will  summarize the issues facing all actors in the sector.

Before addressing the strategic plan, details were presented on the  statistical data on the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic  substances in the world and in Armenia. It was also emphasized that  the strategic plan allows for a more comprehensive approach to the  problem, as it also includes a public health component.

Thus, the stages of development of the strategic program, the goals,  which are: prevention of the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic  substances for non-medical purposes, combating illicit drug  trafficking, ensuring medical care, socio-psychological support,  reintegration and public health protection, were presented. Details  were presented on the steps planned towards the above-mentioned  goals. Accordingly, it is planned to raise awareness of the  population, create an administrative database on persons using or  trafficking narcotic drugs, ensuring traceability, improving the  legislative framework related to legal trafficking, and establishing  restrictions for persons using illicit drugs.

Within the framework of the fight against drug trafficking, it is  planned to prevent the illegal import of drugs through smuggling,  increase the efficiency of operational-intelligence activities and  preliminary investigations, prevent the illegal circulation of drugs  through the Internet, develop the capacities of competent bodies and  organizations, and strengthen cooperation. The socio-psychological  rehabilitation direction envisages the provision of treatment,  rehabilitation and harm reduction services, ensuring public health,  sustainable recovery management and social integration. The  participants of the meeting exchanged ideas on individual points of  the program, presented their observations and suggestions on the  goals of the strategy, and steps aimed at their implementation.

Summing up the discussion, the Prime Minister considered it important  what political direction the strategy gives to the relevant bodies.  According to Nikol Pashinyan, the main task of the strategy should be  to answer the question of what is the main direction of attack:  import, production, distribution or consumption. "I think that the  direction of our attack should be import and production," the Prime  Minister said, adding that the targets should be clarified and all  policies should be adjusted in accordance with this logic. The Prime  Minister also emphasized the importance of classifying drugs  according to their dangerousness and instructed to carry out work in  these directions.