BULGARIAN NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR COMBATING DRUG ABUSE

2014-2018

Reporter: Yuri Katsarov

/01 – 02 October 2015/City of Reykjavik

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Supported by the Fund for Bilateral Relations at National Level for Bulgaria under the EEA FM and NFM 2009-2014

Drug use among the population in Bulgaria

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

According to the national statistics in the period 2010-2012, around 560-570 000 Bulgarian citizens, aged between 15 and 64 years, have used a drug substance at least once in their life. As of the end of 2012, 8.4 % of the Bulgarian population found place in that group.

Those, that had used any kind of drug within the last month, were around 170 - 180 000 people, aged between 15 and 64 years (2012). As of the end of 2012, this group represented 2.1 % of the total population.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Types of drugs used

The most commonly used drug is marijuana. Heroin is still having strong bond with the problematic use of substances, but is tending to yield its top place to the stimulants. Use of synthetic stimulants is on the rise, including amphetamins and substances such as ecstasy.

Young people, aged between 15 and 34, represent around 80-83 % of all people in the age range 15-64, who have not used drugs at least once in their life. Between 36 and 39 % of the students and the pupils from 9th to 12th grade have used drugs in a lifetime.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

USE OF NEW PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

The use of new psychoactive substances have gradually risen, as according to the National data, 25 000 Bulgarian citizens in the age group 15-64 years have used a psychoactive substance in the last one year (2012). Almost half of them (around 12 000) have used drugs 1-2 times on a yearly basis; the same number of people (12 000) has used from 3 to 10 times drugs and only 1000 people declared that they have used drugs once monthly or even more often.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Problematic use of substances

Through an in-depth survey, conducted in 2010 and by using specialized statistics methods and tools, the officially extracted data showed that there are 31 316 addicts using regularly psychoactive substances. By applying a credibility interval of 95 %, we can outline a broader range of assessment- between 23 050 and 42 920 individuals. The assessment of the relative share for the drug addicts number, between 15-64 years of age is 6 /1000 people out of the total number of the population, by a broad range of 4 and 8 /1000.

As we mentioned, the number of using heroin is steadily decreasing. In contrast, the tendency for increasing the number of addicts, using synthetic stimulants (mostly amphetamins) is on the rise, around 5000 people. The cocaine use tendency is also rising. In most of the occasions, the drug addicts use the injective way of infusing.

For years of scientific research, the drug use data shows that marijuana is the most commonly used psychoactive substance in Bulgaria. 0.2 % of the population between 15 and 64 years of age (in other words 9000 – 11 000) have used marijuana every day within the last month and 0.3 % (or 14 000 - 16 000) have used it more than 9 days.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Health deteriorating consequences from using drugs The concerning tendency for the appearance of more HIV-positive people is keeping us alert. The number of newly registered occasions in 2012 is 40 (for instance, that number for 2007 is 41). A tendency of decreasing the mortality rate is observed. According to the National statistics, in 2011 there were 25 deceased registered, while in 2007 there were 52 and 74 for 2008.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Measures, undertaken by the authorities

In 2010, the law-enforcing authorities met with the problem, called „synthetic substances“. Synthetic substances is one of the ways for the smugglers to avoid the legal control by altering the chemical content of the already known synthetics. The addiction process is absolutely the same as in the „traditional“ drugs, but the tendency shows that there are more addicts attracted. There are many places in the country, appeared to offer a vast range of „uncontrolled“ substances. As for the international drugs trade, the most convenient way for distribution is by Internet. Bulgaria is one of the 136 countries to have registered and implemented the System of early warning for pre-cursors export (Pen-Online). It allows a real-time communication between the participating countries.

The implemented activities and applied measures for prevention of involving people in the drug abuse are directed towards both the whole population (universal prevention) and the risky groups (selective prevention).

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Institutions and public bodies in charge of preventing the process

For conducting a preventive policy at a local level are established 27 Community Councils on psychoactive substances. Among the main activities, implemented by the Councils, are development, provision and coordination of municipality programs for combating drug abuse. Preventive and informational centers have been established to the Councils.

A National Center for information, consultation and guidance was opened. A rehabilitation card has been invented.

Within the 4-year period, starting from 2009 to 2013, 10 psychosocial rehabilitation programs were developed, except for 2012, when there were 12 programs taking place in Sofia, Sofia region, Varna, Vratsa, Dobrich, Ruse and Plovdid.

At the present moment, a psychosocial rehabilitation is conducted by 9 programs, having a capacity of 212 beds, spread in the territory of Sofia, Sofia region, Varna, Dobrich, Ruse and Plovdiv.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Number of people, accused of committing drug-related crimes and sentenced is 528. Within the penitentiary system, two programs for drug addicts, sent to a prison, have been implemented. Both of them are developed, by using the cognitive and behavioristic approach. The existing psychosocial rehabilitation programs fail to meet the necessities of the addicts. The treatment of the soft addiction (cannabis, amphetamins, cocaine and etc.) is conducted in outpatient clinics or under programs for psychosocial rehabilitation. There are no programs, specially customized to cover the needs of the soft addiction, which is a serious problem, taking into consideration the rapidly growing number of people, addicted to that type of substances in the last few years. The psychiatric aid, in which the addictions are included, is conducted in 11 National hospitals for psychiatric aid, 12 dispensaries, 11 hospitals with psychiatric rooms and 4 clinics to the University hospitals.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

In our country is developed a network for substituting and sustaining medical treatment. In the period between 2009 and 2012, the number of programs for treating agonists and agonist-antagonists is preserved comparatively the same. The total number of places, where methadon and substitol-based treatment was taking place, was 5610 in 2009, while in 2012 these places were 5171.

The psychiatric aid, in which the addictions are included, is conducted in 11 National hospitals for psychiatric aid, 12 dispensaries, 11 hospitals with psychiatric rooms and 4 clinics to the University hospitals.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

State Agency for Child’s Protection

The State Agency for Child’s Protection maintains an informational database. According to it, in 2012 the social workers have treated 19 occasions of drug-addicted children. The systematic coverage of the drug addiction among children have not been achieved.

Recently, only 4 NGOs have declared a target groups, including children and families, in which a drug abuse problem had been confirmed. These NGOs, providing that type of services are located in Plovdiv, Sofia, Pravets and Peshtera.

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015

Thank you for your attention!

Supported by The Fund for Bilateral Relations At National Level for Bulgaria under the EEA FM and NFM 2009-2014Thematic areas 1 and 2 www. spoc-s.com

http://eeagrants.org/

Promoting the bilateral relations and analyzing the Icelandic model for prevention

Contract № BG 01-002/12.06.2015