concern. In this context the approval of the national program for combating
drug addiction in the Russian Federation is a necessary step towards
improving the work of preventing narcotics and drug-related crimes, along
with other offenses.
Chapter V. Organized Measures to Counteract Narcotics
Par. 1. General Provisions for Counteracting Narcotics
The multiplicity of drug abuse necessitates a joint combative effort
involving a large number of participants who have a broad spectrum of
powers and who will act simultaneously in different directions, performing
a variety of functions. The joining of anti-narcotism forces can be
achieved through a flexible system of measures against this deplorable
social phenomenon.
Organizing a System of Measures Against Narcotics:
The multifaceted nature of drug abuse necessitates forming a single
united front with many participants acting simultaneously in different
directions, performing various functions with a wide spectrum of measures.
This can be achieved by the mobile and flexible system of measures and
means. In terms of overcoming drug abuse, organization is a system of
measures to combat drug abuse and means of their implementation with regard
to the division of the spheres of activity, responsibilities and
hierarchical order.
Based on the social and economic reality, actions against narcotics
should comply with the national and international norms of law and with the
scientifically based principles of management. They should take account of
the new developments in medicine, pharmaceutics, psychology, psychiatry,
pedagogy, sociology, instrument building, and have substantial legislative,
material, informational, and research backing. They must have clear
parameters of time and space and, most importantly, professionally trained
personnel.
At the same time, the anti-narcotics strategy must reflect the irksome
particularities and complicated nature of this phenomenon as it combines
two interrelated sides - that of illness and that of crime. This defines
our approach to drug abuse as a medical, as well as a social problem and it
determines what steps and means must be chosen.
Drug Abuse as an Object of Government Action:
Narcotics-related issues, including organizational ones, cannot be
isolated either from the social, economic, political, historical,
legislative, medical, and biological problems or from other social
pathologies that call for counteraction. The definition of drug abuse as a
phenomenon of multiple factors is not therefore accidental.
Therefore, efficient counteraction requires much organization and
precisely targeted moves.
Such a stance justifies the view of drug abuse as an object for state
action.
This approach makes a broad analysis of the wide-ranging problems and
ways to solve them possible. Besides, drug abuse helps to define who the
subject (subjects) of influence are, its (their) condition and functioning,
the influence its (their) structure projects, as well as choice of goals
and function. These properties also define clear goals and a reasonable
choice of means to attain them as well as to ensure an overall realization.
Observing the fundamental properties of drug abuse, researchers call
upon us to be ready for new and unusual capability of this phenomenon to
adapt to any conditions and manifest itself in new forms in most
undesirable circumstances. On this occasion A. Gabiani writes: "Hardly had
they banished the opium poppy, when the niche was quickly filled by common
poppy. When the entire hemp-growing regions were cut off from black
markets, the pharmaceutics flooded the market. The channels for natural
drugs were blocked, then the far more dangerous chemicals began spreading.»
The specificity of drug abuse, and its forms and degree of
proliferation, stress the need for a regular re-evaluation of its rapidly
changing state in order to promote the methods of counteraction, discard
the outlived methods, bring all techniques of exerting influence in line
with the legislation and day-to-day reality. Experience proves that an
objective assessment of any process demands for corrections to be made
which take due notice of reality.
A system of measures to combat narcotics presupposes that its elements
are mutually compatible and that the system itself can be a part of a
higher order -(law enforcement and crime-prevention systems, and social
administrative systems, as a whole). This means that not one subject or
measure in the counter-narcotics system may contradict the values accepted
by the society. The authority of the subjects must be sufficiently
reflected in their rights and duties.
It is essential that all elements of the anti-narcotics system have
enough potential possibilities to ensure its effective operation. The
utmost goal of the organization is, in this case, to transform the
potential possibilities into the real functions and make them serve as a
system of counteraction measures. For example, the professional duty of
medical institutions and doctors who provide treatment for drug addicts is
manifested as a certain function performed by the elements of the system of
counteraction to drug abuse.
A solution of the problems of drug abuse requires, on the one hand,
considerable efforts by national, international and other organizations and
their numerous divisions that act in different directions and focus on
different target groups of people, and on the other hand, it requires
coordination and accord in their activities.
The interaction of different elements of the system may be indirect,
through the understanding of common objectives. This, however, requires a
link in management. Such a link "is based on a certain program of action
and is, in itself, a method of implementing this program. There is always a
general structure of the process behind a developing operational system.»
General Provisions of Organizing Action Against Drug Abuse:
The above mentioned makes it possible to outline the following
principles of an efficiently organized effort against drug abuse in the
Russian Federation.
As the manifestations of drug abuse continue to grow and diversify, a
real counteraction is possible only in the framework of a well-tested and
scientifically based government policy which defines the forms, tasks and
contents of the government's contribution to this effort. The understanding
of drug abuse phenomenon should be reflected in the Concept of the
government policy towards narcotics. Its principal goal is to secure
legislative and organizational realization of anti-narcotics efforts, bring
harmony and coordination into the activities of different ministries and
departments, draw up a list of priorities and concentrate the available
resources for their synchronized deployment. No other document but such a
Concept can lay the solid foundation for the National Program of
Counteraction against Narcotics. The Program necessarily requires an
approval at the highest level by the President, the government and the
parliament to make all of its provisions mandatory for everyone.
The development of the National Program stands out as one of the most
important tasks among the anti-narcotics measures. It is essential to
invite experts in different fields of research, as well as the
practitioners from the concerned departments to participate in it. The list
of participants, the scope of their duties and the financing are to be
endorsed by the government. The authors of the Program have personal
responsibility for producing a profound analysis of the situation with
drugs, and for the efficiency of the recommended methods for combating drug
abuse. They are also responsible for providing research or organizational
background during the implementation of the steps they have recommended.
The time frame and other specifics of the program must be included in the
resolutions of the government and the parliament.
2. The main goal of the government policy in regard to narcotic
substances should be: a) to prevent their use for other than medical
purposes; b) curb the demand for them; c) and curtail their illegal
manufacturing and turnover. This goal is attainable in practical terms only
through a set of coordinated steps in politics, economy, legislation and
public health. They should be directed at perfecting the laws regulating
narcotics. Methods should be developed of an early identification of the
persons who use drugs for non-medical reasons, of their treatment and
rehabilitation. Policies should be developed counteracting the unlawful
production and sale of drugs at the national and international setting.
3. The mandatory measures of organizational, legislative and material
support of the government policy in the field of drugs fall into two
categories.
The first category implies the establishment of an inter-departmental
anti-narcotics system of measures, which will incorporate the following
elements.
Information support of the program. The departments involved should set
up a data bank to store information about the state of affairs in
narcotics, the proliferation of drugs, the accurate techniques of drug
identification, and other data - national and international - which will
help make decisions and implement measures against narcotics.
Research and technical support. Conducting fundamental research of and
quick response analysis on drugs, the development of advanced techniques
and technologies of halting narcotics should be implemented.
Administrative support. The President, the parliament or the government
should found a special committee entrusted with the overall monitoring of
the drug abuse in the republic. This agency also should map out a uniform
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