DUSHANBE, November 16, 2011, Asia-Plus – A meeting of the Drug Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council that took place at the town of Vahdat on November 15 brought together district deputy chairpersons in charge for social sphere.

Based on the findings of inspections of the Coordinating Councils in districts subordinate to the center, the meeting discussed the drug situation in the area and the process of implementation of the national drug abuse prevention program designed for 2008-2012, the Drug Control Agency (DCA) press center reports.

Speaking at the meeting, the head of the Republican Narcology Center, M. Malakhov noted that due to lack of physicians-narcologists (experts in drug abuse) some districts have submitted wrong information about the number of drug-dependents.  He noted that their center was ready to assist with training of physicians-narcologists.

Deputy Dushanbe Mayor, N. Khairulloyev, in particular, noted that the drug addiction problem was mainly concentrated in the capital city.  “But it is quite possible that many of those engaged in drug peddling in Dushanbe are actually residents of other regions of Tajikistan,” the deputy mayor stressed.

He drew attention of those present to the necessity of strengthening interaction between district and city authorities for the purpose of registering, treating and preventing drug abuse among urban and rural residents, the source said.