National Project Team Leader: Dr Silva BINO
Consultants: Mr Pavel BEM and Mr Kamil KALINA (Czech Republic)

There has been a steady increase in drug problems in Albania in recent years. School surveys in 1997-98 show around a tenth of 13 to 14-year-olds have tried an illicit drug. Data on morbidity and mortality is incomplete, but shows that drug use is mainly concentrated in urban areas.

Until 2001, drug policy included punishment for dealing and using drugs, coupled with some preventive measures, and limited treatment aimed achieving abstinence. More recently, the revised narcotics law differentiated between drug users and drug dealers and called for the creation an Interministerial Committee on drugs.

Albania is now moving towards a balanced approach to drug control, which is rational, realistic and pragmatic, combining a wide spectrum of prevention initiatives, including:

• an early start to prevention activities to emphasise the importance of healthy lifestyles
• comprehensive drug demand reduction activities
• specific targeted interventions at identified risk groups.

This is supported by interministerial, inter-disciplinary, intersectorial and international collaboration, and by monitoring and evaluation.

Under the DRSTP, a draft National Drugs Strategy was prepared in consultation with a wide range of groups. The principles of the Strategy are: a balanced approach; inter-ministerial, interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial coordination; realistic and pragmatic attitude; emphasis on the importance of quality monitoring and evaluation.

The areas of primary prevention covered include: increasing the level of knowledge, attitude and skills among school children; educating intermediators; increasing public awareness; mobilising local communities; and introducing early intervention and outreach programmes.

Areas of secondary and tertiary prevention include: increasing the accessibility of treatment; supporting the interrelated system of treatment and resocialisation; increasing the quality of care through education of professionals; and minimising the health and social consequences including of HIV prevention.