Country overview: Latvia
- Situation summary
- Data sheet
- Barometer
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
- Drug-related research
| Year | Latvia | EU (27 countries) | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2008 | 2 270 894 | 497 455 033 | Eurostat | |
| Population by age classes | 15–24 | 2008 | 15.6 % | 12.6 % 1 | Eurostat |
| 25–49 | 35.7 % | 36.3 % 1 | |||
| 50–64 | 17.8 % | 18.4 % 1 | |||
| GDP per capita in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards) 2 | 2007 | 57.9 | 100 | Eurostat | |
| Total expenditure on social protection (% of GDP) 3 | 2006 | 12.2 % p | 26.9 % p | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate 4 | 2008 | 7.3 % | 7 % | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate of population agends under 25 years | 2008 | 12.6 % | 15.5 % | Eurostat | |
| Prison population rate (per 100 000 of national population) 5 | 2006 | 283.3 | Council of Europe, SPACE 2006.1 | ||
| At risk of poverty rate 6 | 2006 | 23 % | 16 % 7 | SILC, 2007 |
|
p Eurostat provisional value.
1 2007 figures.
2 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.
3 Expenditure on social protection contains: benefits, which consist of transfers, in cash or in kind to households and individuals to relieve them of the burden of a defined set of risks or needs.
4 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.
5 Situation of penal institutions on 1 September, 2006.
6 Share of persons aged 0+ with an equivalent disposable income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold in the current year and in at least two of the preceding three years.
7 EU-25 countries.
Drug use among the general population and young people
The first national general population survey on drug use in Latvia was conducted in 2003 and repeated in 2007. The target population comprised persons aged 15–64 years old. In 2007, lifetime use of cannabis was reported by 12.1 % of respondents (10.6 % in 2003). Lifetime prevalence rates for other drugs were 3.3 % for amphetamines (2.6 % in 2003), 4.7 % for ecstasy (2.4 %), and 2.3 % for cocaine (1.2 % in 2003). Available data for younger adults (15–34 years old) showed that 21.7 % reported lifetime experience with cannabis and 8.5 % reported to have used ecstasy and 4 % with cocaine, 6.1 % amphetamines at least once in their life. Last year prevalence of cannabis use was reported by 9.7 % of the sample and last month prevalence by 3.6 %.
Cannabis is the most popular illicit drug among students aged 15–16 years, as demonstrated by the ESPAD survey conducted in last years. Lifetime prevalence of cannabis was reported by 17 % of students in 1999, 16 % in 2003 and 18 % in 2007. In 2007, results showed that inhalants lifetime prevalence was reported by 13 % of the students. Lifetime prevalence of ecstasy was reported by 7 % of the sample, amphetamines use was reported by 6 %, 4 % reported LSD use and 2 % for the lifetime prevalence of cocaine. Results indicated 11 % for the last year prevalence of cannabis use (9 % in 2003, 11 % in 1999), 4 % for the last month prevalence of cannabis (4 % in 2003, 5 % in 1999). In addition, the reported lifetime prevalence of cannabis use among males was 24 % and 13 % among females.
Prevention
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Education are the main authorities responsible for drug prevention activities in Latvia. The Ministry of Science and Education is responsible for introducing drug prevention in school programmes and in youth programmes outside the school. Health classes that also address substance use are integrated into the basic national curriculum. There are several institutions in Latvia undertaking prevention activities, however they are focused on the capital Riga and surroundings, the majority of activities are mass media campaigns, and often activities in the field of dependence are integrated into broader health promotion activities. The implementation of selective prevention is generally weak and a unified approach to the implementation of universal and selective prevention activities is lacking. Due to lack of funding and capacity, only few outcome evaluations are carried out.
Problem drug use
In 2006, an estimate based on the treatment multiplier method, taking into account the coverage of treatment reporting, indicated a prevalence of more than 6.2 cases per 1 000 inhabitants aged 15–64 years (9 588 users). There were estimated to be at least 8 622 injecting drug users in the country.
In 2005, a two-source capture–recapture study was conducted in order to estimate the number of problem drug users in Riga and surrounding areas. According to this study, there are approximately 4 952 problem drug users in Riga and surrounding areas.
The EMCDDA defines problem drug use as intravenous drug use (IDU) or long duration/regular drug use of opiates, cocaine and/or amphetamines. Ecstasy and cannabis are not included in this category.
Treatment demand
The State Addiction Agency (since 2007 — Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Disorders), located in Riga, has been managing the State Register of Persons with Drug Dependence and Substance Misuse since 1998. In 2007, treatment demand data was gathered from 34 outpatient centres out of the 60 centres and 9 inpatient centres out of the 19 treatment centres across Latvia. In 2007, a total of 1 361 were first-time treatment clients in inpatient and outpatient treatment centres. Data regarding first-time treatment clients entering treatment indicate that 55.6 % reported that opioids were the primary drug, followed by 20.3 % for amphetamines and 9.1 % for cannabis.
In 2007, 53 % of all new clients entering treatment were under the age of 25 years. As far as gender distribution is concerned among first time treatment clients 77 % were males and a 23 % were females.
Drug-related infectious diseases
In the Baltic States, there is a high proportion of injecting drug users (IDUs) among all reported HIV cases. An increase in HIV cases was observed in Latvia in the 1990s. In 2007 newly-reported HIV positive cases in Latvia reached 350 cases (299 cases in 2006). In 2007 out of the 350 cases 40.2 % (141) were injecting drug users (IDUs); 36 % (126) had become infected through heterosexual sexual contact, 4.2 % (15) had become infected through homosexual sexual contact and in 2.2 % (8) of the cases, a mother had infected her child. For 17.14 % (60) of the cases, the transmission route remained unreported.
In terms of notification of data, the Public Health Agency and the AIDS and STI Prevention Centre provide data on HCV and HBV infections. In 2007, 17 % of IDUs among all notified cases with known transmission route were infected with HCV and 12 % were infected with HBV.
Drug-related deaths
Ad-hoc data on drug-related deaths are available from the State Centre for Forensic Medical Examination. These data are based on the results of forensic tests and toxicological analyses. In 2007, there were 21 acute direct drug-related deaths for which the definition was in line with the drug-related deaths standards (17 in 2006 and 14 in 2005), the EMCDDA standard protocol for extracting data on drug-related deaths from registers in the Member States of the European Union (which includes acute deaths directly related to drug consumption or overdoses). Of these 21 cases, 18 were males and 3 were females and the mean age was 39.5 years.
Treatment responses
In Latvia, the national coordination body for drug treatment is the Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Disorders, which is responsible for delivery, accreditation, monitoring and evaluation of drug treatment. Drug treatment is mainly delivered by the Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Disorders, together with hospitals which operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and are funded by the state budget of the Health Compulsory Insurance State Agency. Long-term inpatient drug treatment (rehabilitation) for children is provided through funds from the Ministry of Welfare. Drug treatment is also delivered by private, profit-making organisations.
Drug treatment services are available in outpatient and inpatient clinics, and in addiction units at general medical treatment institutions which are either publicly or privately funded. Increasingly, different private organisations are providing drug treatment services, both on an outpatient and inpatient basis. Furthermore, the Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Disorders provides inpatient detoxification for problem drug users and residential psychosocial treatment. Since 1996, the Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Disorders has been providing methadone maintenance treatment, and since 2003, maintenance treatment has been offered using buprenorphine.
In 2007, the total number of clients in substitution treatment was 230, 100 of whom were on methadone and 130 on buprenorphine.
Harm reduction responses
Harm reduction programmes in Latvia consist of opiate substitution programmes, needle and syringe exchange programmes, and dissemination of information on infectious diseases among high-risk groups. One-to-one counselling on infectious diseases risks is among the national priorities in responding to drug-use related infections. Needle and syringe exchange programmes in Latvia are part of the state HIV prevention programme, which was formally defined in 1997 and became operational in 1999. In 2007, about 126 500 syringes were distributed through 22 fixed and mobile NSP points, which were operational in 12 cities in Latvia. Latvia also participates in transnational projects aiming at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS, STDs, hepatitis and tuberculosis across the Baltic States.
Drug markets and drug-related offences
Data from the Central Criminal Police Department indicate a number of import routes for illicit drugs: synthetic drugs are brought into Latvia from Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany; herbal cannabis and cannabis resin are imported from the Netherlands, Spain and Lithuania; cocaine from Ecuador enters through Russia and Ukraine. Furthermore, Latvia is also utilised for cocaine transit from South America to Russia and the Scandinavian countries.
Data on drug seizures, which combine data from all law-enforcement agencies, are provided by the Forensic Service Department of the State Police. A steady increase in the quantity of seized amphetamines was observed since the year 2000, with 4 kg of amphetamine seized in 2005 and 11 kg in 2006 however, in 2007 the quantity of seized amphetamines decreased to 6 kg. At the same time, street level prices for amphetamines have been decreasing: in 2001, the average price for amphetamines was EUR 28.50/gram, declining to EUR14.20/gram in 2006 and EUR 14 in 2007. As for other illegal drugs, the quantities seized have been fluctuating over recent years, and no clear trend can be identified.
According to information from the Ministry of the Interior Central Criminal Police Department in 2007 there were a total of 1 030, reported drug-related offences with 21 % cannabis related offences, followed by 19 % for heroin related offences and 17.5 % for ecstasy related offences.
National drug laws
Administrative sanctions (a fine of about EUR 130 or administrative detention of up to 15 days) are applied for unauthorised acquisition and storage of small amounts of illicit drugs. Larger amounts for personal use (precisely determined in the law ‘On the Procedures for the Coming into Force and Application of the Criminal Law’) can lead to a criminal penalty of up to seven years in prison. Drug use without medical prescription is also an administrative offence, but for repeated illegal drug use within 12 months, a person may be sentenced to imprisonment for up to two years. Since 2004, the court may impose treatment with a suspended sentence, or release an addict from detention if he or she has agreed to undergo treatment, but there is no underlying control mechanism established.
Traffickers of any quantity may be sentenced to up to 10 years’ imprisonment, or eight to 13 years if large amounts, or especially dangerous substances, are involved.
National drug strategy
Latvia’s ‘State programme for the reduction of addiction to narcotic and psychotropic substances 2005–08’, is a comprehensive drug strategy that focuses on illicit substances. Its goals are to reduce drug demand and supply, and reduce drug-related infectious diseases, mortality and crime. The State programme covers four fields of action: international collaboration and strengthening the legal basis for drugs control; demand reduction; supply reduction; data collection/analysis and evaluation of information. The programme also lists actions and responsibilities to be carried out.
Coordination mechanism in the field of drugs
The Drug Control and Drug Addiction Restriction Coordination Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes seven ministers and several national experts, is responsible for coordinating and reviewing national actions. It supervises four ad-hoc groups, which work on supply reduction, demand reduction, legal turnover and information analysis. The Public Health Agency coordinates the day-to-day monitoring work, and information provision and collection on illicit and licit drugs.
Drug-related research
The State budget funds most drug-related research in Latvia, particularly as the main studies at national level are included in the State programme on drug control and drug addiction. Nevertheless, the municipality of Riga is also a significant actor in funding, with the objective of improving prevention activities at city level. Social and youth research are the main types of research currently conducted by university departments, while basic and applied research are funded by the pharmaceutical industry, and are conducted by the Institute of Organic Chemistry. The Latvian national focal point, meanwhile, plays a significant role in monitoring and analysing the public health situation in the country, and in disseminating drug-related research findings. Recent drug-related studies mentioned in the 2008 Latvian National report mainly focused on aspects related to the prevalence of drug use.