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Drug Abuse in the Middle East. R. Srinivasa Murthy Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of World Health Organisation, Cairo, Egypt. Illicit Drug Index-2005. DRUG ABUSE IS PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY. Scope of the Presentation: Introduction to countries of Middle East
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Drug Abuse in the Middle East R. Srinivasa Murthy Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of World Health Organisation, Cairo, Egypt.
Scope of the Presentation: • Introduction to countries of Middle East • Drug abuse- production and supply • Drug abuse- Magnitude of the problem • Drug abuse- Health impact • Drug abuse- interventions • Drug abuse- Challenges
Countries of the Middle East • Region of • Contrasts, • Conflicts and • Challenges.
GNP in USD$ > 9000 USD( highest $28270) 4000 USD – 9000 USD 1700 USD – 4000 USD 1000 USD – 1700USD < 1000 USD(lowest $169)
Life Expectancy > 65 Years 50 – 65 Years < 50 Years
Adult Literacy Rate < 64% 65% - 80% > 81%
Less than 15 years > 40% < 40%
EMRO-Countries in Complex Emergencies and Post-Conflict situations
Doctors /10 000 population < 2 2 - 10 10 - 20 > 20
Psychiatrists/100,000 2.0 0.8 0.5 1.6 0.5 1.0 0.04 0.4 1.0 0.1 0.15 1.0 1.3 3.4 1.3 0.1 0.2 2.0 0.1
Drug Abuse- • Production and Supply
82,000 ha 74,000 ha 2000 2002 8,000 ha 80,000 ha (+ 8%) 2001 2003 Evolution of Afghan opium poppy cultivation since 2000
Tentative estimate of cannabis resin production and main source countries 7,400 metric tons
Risk Factors: Smoking prevalence among men in EMRO 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 OMA BAH % SUD IRA UAE MOR KUW PAK SAA IRQ OPT EGY JOR LEB SYR YEM TUN DJI Source: World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, 2002
Drug Abuse Pattern in the Region • Opioids- Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Pakistan, Oman • Khat- Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen • Stimulants-
Regional Situation • Age of starting drugs is decreasing • Injectable drugs is increasing • Women are using drugs more often • Contribution to spread of HIV/AIDS • Majority of the drug abusers are not seeking treatment
Al Razi addiction treatment unit - % of admissions HIV positive
Regional Initiatives • High Recognition of the problem: • June 2005,Cairo,Egypt • High Level Arab Conference for Protecting the Youth from Substance Abuse • 2nd Inter agency Working Group on Young People and HIV/AIDS in MENA. • Youth in the Middle East
Innovative Regional Initiatives • Specialised treatment facilities- Libya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia • Prevention through Life skills education Eg. Egypt, Iran, Oman • Harm reduction strategies- needle exchange, methadone treatment Eg. Iran • Triangular clinics • Public Mental Health Education • Involvement of Religious leaders
Regional Strategy for Substance Use and Dependence • 1. Development of National policy- multi-sectoral with networking; • 2.Increasing understanding of causes, consequences and care; • 3. Human Resource Development; • 4.Wide range of services in Community; • 5.Promotion of psychosocial wellbeing and prevention
WHO ROLE • RAPID- Reg. Adv Panel on Impact of Drugs-since 2002 • Advocacy • Legislation • Research • Setting standards for care and HRD • Coordination with UNODC, UNAIDS, UNFPA,UNESCO,Arab League • Models of Prevention