Country overview: Kazakhstan
- Situation summary
Contents
- Drug use among the general population and young people
- Prevention
- Problem drug use
- Treatment demand
- Drug-related infectious diseases
- Drug-related deaths
- Treatment responses
- Harm reduction responses
- Drug markets and drug-related offences
- National drug laws
- National drug strategy
- Coordination mechanism in the field of drugs
This summary was prepared within the framework of regional projects financed by the European Commission programme for the Technical Assistance to the Community of Independent States (TACIS) (last update: 2009). The contents of these summaries do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of the EMCDDA’s partners, the EU Member States or any institution or agency of the European Union or European Communities. Similarly, the content of this particular summary does not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Republic of Kazakhstan and should be seen as the product of the particular program of technical assistance, i.e., CADAP (Central Asia Drug Action Programme).
| Year | Kazakhstan | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface area | 2008 | 2 274 900 sq km | Statistics Agency of Kazakhstan |
| Population | 2008 | 15 673 999 | Statistics Agency of Kazakhstan |
| GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards (1) | 2007 | EUR 5 660 | UNDP Human Development Report |
| Inequality of income distribution (2) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Unemployment rate (3) | 2007 | 6.8 % | Statistics Agency of Kazakhstan |
| Prison population rate (4) | 2007 | 363 | Criminal Law Enforcement Committee of the Ministry of Justice |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Population below poverty line | 2007 | 9.8 % | UNDP Human Development Report |
1 Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of economic activity. It is defined as the value of all goods and services produced less the value of any goods or services used in their creation. The volume index of GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) is expressed in relation to the European Union (EU-27) average set to equal 100. If the index of a country is higher than 100, this country's level of GDP per head is higher than the EU average and vice versa.
2 Inequality of income distribution is measured as the ratio of total income received by the 20 % of the population with the highest incomes (the top quintile) to that received by the 20 % of the population with the lowest incomes (the lowest quintile).
3 Unemployment rates represent unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force. Unemployed persons comprise persons aged 15 to 74 who were: (a) without work during the reference week; (b) currently available for work; (c) actively seeking work.
4 Situation of penal institutions on 1 September, 2006. Prison population rate per 100 000 inhabitants.
The Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan) is one of the newly independent states that emerged after the disintegration of the USSR. The capital, Astana, has a population of 574 448 (as of 1 January 2008).
Geographically, Kazakhstan is located at the juncture of two continents, Europe and Asia, at 45–87 º East Longitude and 40–55 º North Latitude.
Drug use among the general population and young people
There were no studies conducted in 2007 on drug use among the general population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The most recent comprehensive research on drug abuse was conducted in 2001. The research findings showed drug abuse resistance of the population to be as follows: Probable drug abuse resistance (a largely complete set of drug abuse resistance components ) — 58.6 %; average drug abuse resistance probability (as shown by the decision not to use narcotic drugs and an incomplete set of the components (1)) — 29.8 %; risk group (as shown by the lack of firm position on the use of psychoactive substances and lack of drug abuse resistance components) — 11.5 %; group of drug addicts — 1.9 % (included into the risk group).
In 2006, the UNODC Representative Office for Central Asia provided assistance for the national school alcohol and drug research in six regions: Pavlodar, Karaganda, Kostanai, Akmola, Almaty and South-Kazakhstan Oblasts. The research used interview and ESPAD questionnaire (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs) methods; total number of respondents: 4 992. The Student's Questionnaire was adjusted to local conditions and the sampling age was changed from 15–16 to 14–15 years. In this survey, 14 % of respondents were regular cigarette smokers, 2.1 % Nasvai (2) users, 12.1 % regular alcohol drinkers, 4.8 % were ‘those who tried a drug at least once’, 1.2 % were ‘regular drug takers’, 0.1% heroin injectors and 2.7 % respondents used marijuana over the past 12 months.
(1) A complete set of drug abuse resistance components is characterised by full completion of the identification stage of personal development; adequately shaped skills of choice and rejection of benefits of competing scenarios; level of ‘internal’ responsibility (internal control locus) closely connected with the previous item; presence of adequately formulated, 'own' constructive life scenario with a system of values ruling out drug use; presence of sufficient resources to implement the above-listed scenarios; and full awareness of negative consequences of the use of psychoactive substances precluding implementation of main life scenarios.
(2) Nasvai is a substance which apparently takes its name from the plant nas which was previously used to make it. The main component is makhorka or tobacco, with other components including slaked lime, plant ash, camel excrements or chicken droppings and sometimes oil; dried fruits and seasonings may also be added. According to other sources, nasvai is rolled tobacco dust mixed with glue, lime, water or vegetable oil.
Prevention
Drug use prevention measures are designated in the Strategy of Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Business in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2006–14. A multi-stage educational programme was initiated in order to establish a consistent drug, alcohol and tobacco use prevention system, enabling students of general educational, vocational schools, colleges and first-year university students to develop life skills. The programme is taught through play and is aimed on formation of ideas about healthy lifestyle, motivation to reject bad habits, development of interpersonal communication skills (elementary school); formation of skills, knowledge and relations necessary to make decisions to reject the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco (secondary school, grades 5–7) and formation of a competent idea about drug abuse problems in modern society, development of interaction skills, mutual support and self-help, motivation to participate in solving the problem (grades 8–11, professional lyceums, colleges and first-year university students). The following were also added to the school programmes:
- 1994: a special 15-hour course ‘AIDS problems and prevention’ for grades 5–11;
- 1998: a 27-hour course entitled ‘Kazakhstan School Programme to Prevent Use of Harmful Substances’ (elementary school — 10 hours per year; basic school — 10 hours per year; and high school — 7 hours per year);
- 1998: Valeology (3) course.
The mandatory school component (the invariant part of the curriculum) considers the impact of unhealthy practices on a person's mental and physical health in the subjects of biology, natural science, organic chemistry, ethics and family life psychology.
In order for young people to form skills for making correct decisions in crisis situations (such as opposition to drugs, alcohol and smoking), the Ministry of Education and Science has developed and is testing an interactive curriculum component ‘Up to 16 and older: Time to think’. The programme is a 10-hour multimedia manual consisting of four interactive lectures, four socio-psychological trainings and two practical classes. It has been tested in 25 comprehensive schools in Astana and was presented on 9 March, 2007.
In 2007, a total of approximately 7 000 anti-drug materials were published, including 2 600 in the printed press, 2 400 on TV, 1 500 on radio, and 500 in news agencies.
Approximately 2 300 children and youth leisure organisations are working to keep children occupied after school, including 700 neighbourhood clubs, 800 hobby clubs and 540 out-of-school organisations (musical, art, sports schools etc.). These cover around 400 000 (or 7.1 %) of 10 to 30 year olds.
(3) Valeology is the science on individual health and methods of its maintenance and improvement.
Problem drug use
A nationwide study on this problem was conducted in six regions during February-May 2006 with the assistance of the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia. The researchers used the snowball sampling method. Findings were analysed and provided basic parameters using indirect assessment methods. The prevalence of the problem of drug abuse in Kazakhstan was found to be 109 000 persons (or 0.93 % of the population aged over 15 (4), including 100 000 or 0.85 % of injecting drug users (IDUs).
(4) National statistics do not separate the age group from 15 to 64.
Table 1: Findings of Problem Drug Use Research
| Indicators | Quantitative data |
|---|---|
| Respondents, total | 1 200 (100 %) |
| Background of respondents | |
| Men | 77.4 % |
| Aged under 30 | 74.0 % |
| General or special secondary education | 81.3 % |
| Employed (on a permanent and temporary basis) | 73.6 % |
| Earning a living by stealing | 15.3 % |
| Earning a living through prostitution | 6.3 % |
| Drug use | |
| Mean age at first use of drugs | 17.4 years |
| Mean age at first injection of drugs | 21.2 years |
| Heroin (injections) | 70 % |
| Opium (injections) | 23.1 % |
| Number of users detained at least once for drug-related crimes | 33.6 % |
| Mean age at first detention | 23.7 years |
| Use of unsterile syringes over lifetime | 21 % |
| Those who at least once allowed another IDU to apply the used syringe | 20.6 % |
| At least once while being in prison | 14.3 % |
| Diseases co-morbid with drug use | |
| Hepatitis B | 32.2% |
| Hepatitis C | 14.3 % |
| HIV | 3.3 % |
| Sexually transmitted diseases (5) | 8.5 % |
| Tuberculosis | 8.6 % |
(5) All types of sexually transmitted diseases.
Treatment demand
Systematic research on the need for medical aid is conducted in Kazakhstan irregularly, so the main sources of information are medical statistics primarily provided by state drug rehabilitation institutions.
The number of in-patients treated for dependence on narcotic, psychotropic and toxic substances (not including alcoholic and tobacco) in 2007 was 9 728 patients (or 63.18 per 100 000). Furthermore, treatment was provided to 3 918 patients in day-time facilities and 607 outpatients.
11 239 IDUs were counselled in trust points in 2007.
The analysis of treatment services may be subject to double counting of patients and duplication of data. Moreover, the existing data collection mechanisms do not allow obtaining reliable data on the number of patients and clients who resorted to any medical or non-medical services for the first time in 2007.
Drug-related infectious diseases
The first HIV case was registered in Kazakhstan in 1987. In the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan has the second largest HIV infected population (after Uzbekistan). At present Kazakhstan is highest among the Central Asian countries in terms of the number of registered HIV infection cases.
HIV infection has been registered in all regions of Kazakhstan, with the total number of HIV cases at 9 381 (54.1 per 100 000 population). The prevalence of registered HIV-infection cases by region includes 2 044 cases in Karaganda (103.5 cases/100 000), 1 172 cases in Pavlodar (133.7/100 000) and 2 042 cases in Almaty city (164.4/100 000).
In 2007, new HIV-infection cases registered totalled 1 979, including 1 258 injecting drug users (63.6 % of the total). The most affected age group was that of young people aged 15–29, which accounted for 64 % of all identified HIV infections. The main means of transmission for HIV infection in recent years has been intravenous injections, representing 9 378 (or 70.9 %) of all HIV-infected people. During 2006, deaths from AIDS totalled 119 people, including 104 injecting drug users.
According to the national treatment protocol, 326 HIV-infected people received combined antiretroviral treatment (ART), which represented 52.8 % of those in need of the treatment, as at the end of 2007. This total included 205 IDUs. Out-patient treatment has been provided for 2 692 registered HIV-infected people (56.9 %), while inpatient treatment was offered to 1 574 (33.3 %) HIV-infected persons.
According to Sentinel Surveillance data (6) (hereinafter referred to as SS), HIV prevalence among IDUs was 3.9 % in 2007, compared to 3.4 % in 2006.
There is no accurate data on virus hepatitis prevalence among drug users in Kazakhstan for 2007. According to the SS, hepatitis C prevalence among IDUs was 65.8 %, compared with 64.8 % in 2006). There has been no research on the prevalence of hepatitis B in Kazakhstan to date.
(6) Sentinel surveillance is a method for testing of representatives of vulnerable groups (for HIV, hepatitis).
Drug-related deaths
In 2007, no specific research on the death rate among drug users was conducted. Existing statistics from different ministries and departments show a high probability of duplication and variation. In particular, according to narcological care entities, there were 652 (or 4.23 per 100 000 population) deaths connected with the use of narcotic and psychotropic substances in 2007. However, according to the forensic examination report, the number of fatal cases was 891 (or 5.6 per 100 000 people).
Forensic examination results in 2007 (Ministry of Health, 2008): total number of medical examinations 891 (100 %); deaths caused by drugs (7) were 755 (84.7 %), by psychotropic substances (8) 24 (2.7 %), by soporifics 30 (3.4 %), by organic solvents 62 (7.0 %); other reasons of death were found in 20 cases (2.2 %).
In 2007, the number of deaths from overdose or toxic action of narcotic, psychotropic substances and precursors was 334 (or 2.16 per 100 000 population). Over the same reporting period, 1 312 registered drug users died for a variety of reasons, including overdose, representing 2 % of the average annual number of registered drug users (or 8.52 per 100 000 population).
The statistics do not provide a breakdown by types of drugs causing death and there are no statistics reflecting the number of and reasons for deaths of persons removed from the drug user register.
(7) Narcotic drugs are substances of synthetic or natural origin included into the List of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors Subject to Control in the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961.
(8) Psychotropic substances are substances of synthetic or natural origin included into the List of Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors Subject to Control in the Republic of Kazakhstan in accordance with the Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971.
Treatment responses
As of the end of 2007, the following institutions offered medical aid to patients with mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance abuse: the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre of Medical and Social Problems of Drug Abuse (Pavlodar) for 140 patients; 20 drug rehabilitation clinics for 3 080 patients; nine specialised medical institutions for 1 635 patients; seven drug rehabilitation units in psychiatric hospitals for 175 patients; and five drug user patients in general therapy.
According to the treatment centres, a total of 55 911 patients with mental and behavioural disorders due to use of narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursors, were registered in 2007 (including 4 621 minors (or 11.3 %), i.e. under 18 years of age, of whom 883 were aged under 14; and 5 380 women (11.1 %) (9).
Clinics treating drug use (except for specialised treatment-and-prophylactic institutions) host 15 units for compulsory treatment of dependence on psychoactive substances, which can accommodate up to 1 060 patients.
The substitution therapy using methadone and/or buprenorphine to treat persons with opioid dependence is not used in Kazakhstan. However, in October 2008, methadone substitution therapy was started as a pilot project in Karaganda and Pavlodar for 50 HIV-infected patients suffering from heroin dependence. This was in response to the Order of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Healthcare ‘On Introduction of Substitution Therapy’, dated 8 December 2005.
A social rehabilitation unit (Asar therapeutic community), located in a rural area near Pavlodar city, has been established for 40 patients, to provide socio-psychological treatment for drug addicts, who have passed a treatment course. The unit operates under the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre of Medical and Social Problems of Drug Abuse. Furthermore, Razdolnoye village in Akmola Oblast hosts a rehabilitation and prevention centre Dom na Polputi (Halfway House) where the single telephone counselling service functions for drug addicts.
(9) It is impossible to segregate persons who were registered at the request of the law enforcement authorities due to lack of special registration of such cases.
Harm reduction responses
Kazakhstan has a total of 146 trust points established to decrease the damage to IDUs (an increase of 15 units on 2006). The number of mobile stations also increased from 8 to 15 over the same time period. There are in addition, 29 friendly clinics, with two opening in 2007.
According to monitoring data, trust points were visited by 37 310 IDUs in 2007, while 29 % of IDUs, the same figure as in 2006, were covered by preventive programmes through trust points. Trust points also distributed 12 116 640 syringes, 2 213 000 condoms, 280 346 doses of disinfectants and 68 953 brochures. 11 239 people took voluntary HIV tests, of whom 77 were positive.
Kazakhstan provides vulnerable population groups, including IDUs, sex workers (SW), men having sex with men (MSM) and, prisoners, with good-quality condoms and in 2007, invested KZT 108 740 000 in buying condoms.
AIDS centres also host friendly clinics, which were visited by 16 646 people in 2007 (including 2 238 IDUs, 9 365 SW, 140 MSM, and 4 901 young people), while treatment of sexually transmitted diseases was provided to 11067 people. In 2007, HIV express-diagnostics was introduced in friendly clinics.
In 2007, 3 331 MSM (or 8.1 % of the estimated total) were covered by preventive programmes. Kazakhstan has four registered non-government organisations (NGOs) engaged in protection of sexual minorities and HIV/STD prevention among MSM. Sex workers using injection drugs received 234 166 syringes.
In terms of awareness rising, information/educational materials are distributed: in 2007, IDUs received 68 934 information materials including 25.2 % of specialised materials, for example, on drug abuse.
Trust points involved 543 volunteers, of whom 70.7 % were IDUs and the remaining co-dependents, in dealing with IDUs. Of 37 310 IDUs involved in the damage alleviation programme, 22 449 (or 60.2 %) were served by outreach workers, while out of a total of 12 116 640 syringes provided, 78.0 % were distributed by outreach workers. Throughout the country, 65.7 % of used syringes distributed by outreach workers, were returned.
Drug markets and drug-related offences
In 2007, the criminal prosecution bodies registered a total of 10 502 crimes related to illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors (NPP), showing a 0.8 % increase on 2006 (10 423 crimes), including 9 873 (94.0 %) by The Ministry of Internal Affairs registered 9 873 (or 94 %), the Committee of Financial Control of the Ministry of Finance registered 246 (or 2.3 %), the Committee for National Security registered 361 (or 3.4 %) and eight (0.08 %) were registered by other bodies.
The spread of drug crimes and an increase in the number of drug abusers go hand in hand with an increase in the number of crimes committed under the influence of drugs. In 2007, there were 247 such crimes committed, compared with 259 in 2006. There were 8 147 people who committed crimes connected with illegal trafficking of drugs, a 1.2 % decrease from 2006 (8 244 crimes).
Table 2: Crimes registered in 2007 and related with illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors
| Name of Article | 2006 | 2007 | Increase (+), Decrease (-) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smuggling of NPP (Criminal Code, Article 250) | 437 | 390 | -10.8 % |
| Illegal purchase, transportation or storage of NPP without intent to sell (Criminal Code, Article 259, Item 1) | 5 095 | 4 903 | -3.8 % |
| Illegal purchase, transportation or storage of NPP with intent to sell, production, processing, transfer or sale of NPP (Criminal Code, Article 259, items 2–4) | 4 678 | 5 016 | +7.2 % |
| Theft or extortion of NPP (Criminal Code, Article 260) | 3 | 23 | +666.7 % |
| Inducement to NPP use (Criminal Code, Article 261) | 10 | 7 | -30.0 % |
| Illegal cultivation of forbidden plants containing narcotic substances (Criminal Code, Article 262) | 136 | 110 | -19.1 % |
| Illegal trafficking of poisonous substances and substances, tools or equipment used for making or processing NPP (Criminal Code, Article 263) | 8 | 3 | -62.5 % |
| Organizing or maintaining facilities for NPP use (Criminal Code, Article 264) | 36 | 26 | -27.8 % |
| Infringement of rules of treatment of narcotic drugs, psychotropic or poisonous substances (Criminal Code, Article 265) | 19 | 23 | +21.1 % |
| Illegal private medical practice or private pharmaceutical activity, illegal issue or forgery of prescriptions or other documents entitling receipt of NPP (Criminal Code, Article 266, item 5) | 1 | 1 | – |
A total of 23 480 kilograms of drugs and psychotropic substances were seized in the Republic, which represents a 6.2 % decrease compared with 2006 (25 042 kilograms). Seized drugs included 521 990 grams of heroin (-5.9 % compared with 2006), 335 531 grams of opium (-47.3 %), 261 824 grams of hashish (-14.3 %) and 21 794 kg of marijuana (-4.7 %).
Table 3: Wholesale Drug Prices (in EUR) per kilogram
| Region | Marijuana | Hashish | Opium | Heroin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astana | 165–225 | 1 500 | 3 750 | 7 500–11 250 |
| Almaty | 45 | 750–1 125 | 1 500 | 9 000 |
| Almaty Oblast | 50–55 | 750–900 | 1 500–1 875 | 5 250–7 500 |
| Akmola Oblast | 75–110 | 2 250 | 5 250 | 13 500–15 000 |
| Aktobe Oblast | 115 | 2 250 | 5 250 | 15 000–18 750 |
| Atyrau Oblast | 135–285 | 2 250–3 750 | 5 250 | 26 250–30 000 |
| East Kazakhstan Oblast | 110 | 3 750–5 625 | 3 750–5 625 | 11 250–15 000 |
| Zhambyl Oblast | 20–40 | 225 | 1500 | 5 250–7 500 |
| West-Kazakhstan Oblast | 150 | 750 | 3 750–5 250 | 7 500–11 250 |
| Karaganda Oblast | 35–70 | 300–450 | 1 125–1 875 | 6 000–8 250 |
| Kyzylorda Oblast | 40 | 300–450 | 2 250 | 6 000–7 500 |
| Kostanai Oblast | 75–110 | 340–450 | 5 250 | 8 250–11 250 |
| Mangistau Oblast | 110–190 | 1 500–1 875 | 5 250 | 8 250–11 250 |
| Pavlodar Oblast | 75–110 | 750–1 500 | 3 375 | 6 000–8 250 |
| North-Kazakhstan Oblast | 260–280 | 1 125–1 500 | 7 500–9 000 | 13 500–15 000 |
| South-Kazakhstan Oblast | 35–50 | 375 | 1 875 | 4 500–6 750 |
National drug laws
The national legislation does not provide for punishment for individual drug use. However, smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is pursued in criminal law and entails up to 15 years of imprisonment and confiscation of property. Storage of drugs is pursued in criminal and administrative law depending on the weight of drugs as defined by the Summary Table of Classification of Illegally Trafficked Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors (NPP) as Small, Large and Particularly Large. Storage of small quantities of NPP incurs administrative liability in the form of a fine or administrative arrest.
A person, who voluntarily handed over small quantities of NPP he/she made, processed, bought, stored, transported or sent without intent to sell is exempt from administrative liability.
Storage of large and particularly large quantities of NPP without intent to sell incurs criminal liability in the form of a fine, public works, correctional labor and imprisonment (with or without confiscation of property). Whereas, storage of large and particularly large quantities of NPP with intent to sell incurs criminal liability in the form of imprisonment with confiscation of property or lifelong imprisonment.
A person, who voluntarily handed over NPP or approached a medical institution for medical aid in connection with drug use for non-medical purposes and providing active assistance in solution or suppression of crimes related with illegal trafficking of drugs or psychotropic substances, in identification of persons who made them, in detection of property obtained criminally, is exempt from criminal liability for illegal manufacturing, processing, purchase, storage, transportation, transfer or selling of large and particularly large quantities of drugs, drug smuggling.
The following are classified as small quantities: 0.1 to 2 grams of opium, including neutral fillers; 0–1 gram of opium extractions; 0–0.05 grams of acetylated opium; and 0–0.01 gram of heroin, including accompanying substances and fillers.
In 2002, the Law on Amending Certain Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on ‘Control over Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors’ amended the Summary Table of Classification of Illegally Trafficked Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors (NPP) as Small, Large and Particularly Large so that quantities of marijuana classified as small were increased from 10 to 50 grams. According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 10 June 1998 # 279 ‘On Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, Precursors and Measures to Counteract their Illegal Trafficking and Abuse’, cannabis (marijuana) was classified as a drug, whose use is forbidden for medical purposes.
National drug strategy
The main document setting out the anti-drug policy of the state is the Strategy of Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Business in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2006–14 approved by the Decree of the President # 1678 dated 29 November 2005, and stipulating the following main areas:
- ensuring effective control over legal turnover of drugs;
- combating illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors;
- prevention of drug abuse;
- treatment and social rehabilitation of drug abusers.
To ensure progress in the anti-drug policy, the entire strategy implementation period is broken down into three related stages, which will be implemented through state programmes for combating Drug Abuse and drug business to be developed.
At present, the Programme for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Business for 2006–08 approved by the Government Order dated 5 April 2006, # 240 is being implemented. The main aim of the programme is to prevent the growth of drug use and abuse and illegal trafficking, and consecutive reduction of the drug spread to the level of minimum danger for the society. Specific objectives include:
- further development of interaction between participants of drug addiction activities;
- improvement of the regulatory framework governing drug addiction activities;
- improvement of the mechanism for counteracting NPP illegal trafficking;
- improvement of drug addiction promotion, transfer of healthy lifestyle skills;
- development of modern technologies of prevention, diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, resocialisation of persons dependent on psychoactive substances;
- bringing the structure, technology, manning table and logistics of drug treatment-and-prophylactic institutions into conformity with legislatively approved standards of organization of modern aid for drug-related problems;
- creation and implementation of specialised automated psychological testing programmes, school and family collections of anti-drug videotapes and books;
- development of scientific technologies for combating wild-growing drug plants;
- creation of interdepartmental automated systems of exchange of day-to-day, statistical, registration and other data for subsequent integration with similar systems of CIS states;
- strengthened border control.
A Programme for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Business for 2009–11 is being developed.
Coordination mechanism in the field of drugs
To coordinate activities of state bodies and take effective measures to prevent drug use and abuse and to counteract illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, the Commission for Coordination of Work to Prevent and Counteract Drug Abuse and Drug Business, currently chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has been functioning since 2003. The working body of the Commission is the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Its main objectives are to facilitate:
- development of new approaches to implementing a set of interrelated adequate measures based on a uniform state policy and Strategy of Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Business in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2006-2014;
- strengthening and creation of systems for effective state and public combating of illegal drug trafficking and abuse, prevention of drug abuse, treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts;
- formation of social narcotic immunity of the population.
The Commission's functions are in line with the objectives it is assigned with and include developing recommendations on:
- improvement of the state policy in the area of trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors and combating their illegal trafficking and abuse;
- determination of main areas, strengthening of state control over turnover of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors and coordination of state bodies combating drug abuse and drug business;
- implementation and further improvement of the mechanism of counteraction and combating drug abuse, illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors and their availability; and, duly exposing of persons illegally using drugs, abusing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and treatment of dependent persons and their social rehabilitation;
- raising drug abuse prevention efficiency including through participation of mass media, educational institutions, medical entities, law enforcement bodies and public in forming critical attitude towards and aversion of drugs;
- improvement of the legislative and other regulatory framework on prevention and combating drug abuse and drug business;
- further improvement of activities and coordination of state bodies in the area of prevention and combating drug abuse and drug business;
- issues of international cooperation on prevention and combating drug abuse and drug business.
The Commission has the following rights:
- to request and receive the materials required to implement its tasks from the central and local executive bodies and other organizations;
- to involve, if need be, experts from state bodies and state research organizations for analysis and study of the drug situation in the regions;
- to hear at the Commission's meetings the speeches of representatives of central and local executive bodies and other organizations on issues falling within the competence of the Commission;
- submitting proposals to the state authorities on further improvement of efforts in this area.
