According to the statistical data of the Forensic Main Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, more than 90% decrease in consuming new psychoactive substances is indicated in the period of June-December of 2014, in comparison to the similar period of 2013. Furthermore, in recent months the import of so-called “Bio Drugs” across the border crossing points practically has not occurred. The impressive reduction tendency in consuming so-called “Bio Drugs” was discussed during the Eighth Meeting of the State Commission Supporting Suppression of Distributing New Psychoactive Substances, held at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.
The Commission Members highlighted that the significant decrease in illicit traffic in new psychoactive substances is the result of the complex state drug policy, inter alia covering timely legislative amendments, effective implementation of the legislation, permanent monitoring of the situation and coordinated work of the agencies. Preventive measures should be particularly highlighted, among which a wide-spread anti-drug campaign “No to Bio Drugs – Let’s Change the Attitude Together” conducted by the MIA is especially noteworthy.
The State Commission is composed of the representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs and Ministry of Finance of Georgia. The State Commission meets every month and conducts permanent monitoring over the implementation of relevant legislation and over the challenges related to new psychoactive substances in Georgia.
The Eighth Meeting of the State Commission was attended by Ivane Papiashvili, Director of MIA Central Criminal Police Department, Sopio Kiladze, Pro-Rector of the MIA Academy, Vladimer Khundadze, Head of Customs Department of Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, Lasha Kiladze, General Director of the Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction, David Matcharashvili, Acting Head of Department of Pharmaceutical Activities of State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs and other representatives of the mentioned agencies.
At the Meeting Sopio Kiladze, Secretary of the State Commission presented a report summarizing the main directions of the activities of the Commission in 2014: preparation of the package of legislative amendments, establishing a unified electronic database on new psychoactive substances, relationship with non-governmental sector and international partners (especially mentioning the conference organized by EMCDDA and hosted by Georgia in April 2015), ensuring maximum transparency of the activities of the Commission, etc.
At the Meeting Lasha Kiladze, Director of the Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction mentioned that since May 2014 gradually less and less users refer the Center for treatment, because of the health related problems due to consumption of the so-called “Bio Drugs”; and this tendency indicates the apparent reduction in consuming these substances in the country.
