Drug situation in Georgia 2010

This review aims to summarise the main aspects of the drug situation in Georgia, and to describe its main characteristics, trends and developments. It also attempts to identify drug information gaps, as well as the adequacy of the system of responses to the drug problem in the country.

The structure is based on EMCDDA standards and involves the system of key and core indicators of drug epidemiology. Following the structured description of the main aspects of the drug situation in the Republic of Georgia, the principal elements of the national response to the drug problem are described. The review reflects the drug situation and related challenges as studied and perceived by the authors. The analysis is based on data from 2009 and 2010. In certain cases the 2008 data are referred to because of information gaps and difficulties in the collection/coordination of drug information in the country, which to date has no institutional base that can sustainably follow international standards.

The review shows that despite the positive developments in the field of drug demand reduction measures, which are mostly driven by international sponsors, there are still a number of problems in the country that require an immediate response from the national government and society: first of all, the lack of a structured and balanced drug strategy and corresponding drug action plans, and the subsequent:

• lack of a coordination mechanism in the field of drug demand and supply reduction measures;
• absence of institutional mechanisms for primary and secondary prevention;
• insufficient drug legislation and underdeveloped legislative practices;
• one-sided development of treatment methods, with little or no attention being paid to non-drug-assisted comprehensive care, including social rehabilitation, and
• absence of institutional mechanisms for the maintenance of a drug information system that would provide sound evidence for the planning of interventions.