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Fighting Drug-Abuse Demands Joint Efforts
The Macedonian Network for Reduction of Drug-Abuse (MNRDA), led by non-governmental organizations “Trust” (Doverba), “HOPS-Healthy Living Options Skopje”, and “Pasage”, protested the suspended process for dispersion of centres for prevention and treatment of drug-addicts in Skopje. The organizations claim that the continued postponement of the opening of the centres further jeopardizes the health of a huge number of addicts.
Macedonia faces the problem of rising drugs abuse and the lack of capacities to answer the needs for treatment of long-term drug users. In spite of the attempts in 2001, the dispersion of new therapy centres failed. The initiative gained new momentum in November 2004, thanks to the support by the Global Fund Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the new activities included the competent Government ministries and institutions, as well as civic associations active in this field.
Over the course of 2005 and 2006, the Ministry of Health opened six new centres in six cities in Macedonia, in cooperation with the local authorities. An initiative was started to open three new centres in Skopje, the city with highest number of drug-addicts in the country. Still, the last meeting of the relevant institutions decided that the opening of the therapy centres shall be postponed.
The NGOs actively involved on the problem of drug-abuse in Skopje have had trouble to satisfy the needs of the addicts that wish to get treatment, due to the limited capacities of the existing centres. Furthermore, the programme for substitute (Methadon) therapy was terminated, and the non-substitute programe has a capacity of only 15 patients at any given time.
The organizations demand to be involved more actively in decision-making processes regarding the dispersion of prevention and treatment facilities, based on the principle of shared responsibility. Joint efforts are necessary to find urgent solution for all persons that need treatment and assistance.
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