OREANDA-NEWS. On 30 January 2009 was announced, that results of performance of the republican target program on the state antinarcotics policy in the Republic of Karelia in 2006-2008 were discussed on January 26 at the planning meeting in the Government of Karelia led by the Head of the Republic Sergey Katanandov.

As the First Deputy Minister of Public Health Services and Social Development of the republic Ervand Hidishian has noted, everything planned in the program for the past three years is performed so far. The program was aimed at creation of conditions for stage-by-stage reduction of narcotism distribution to the minimal society hazard level, creation of positive information and cultural tendency at generation of antinarcotic world outlook, healthy way of life and spiritual and moral culture in the society among children, teenagers, youth and adults.

Within the past 3 years primary narcotism stabilization was observed in Karelia. Within a year the number of registered drug addicts has decreased by 9%, and from 2005 to 2008 it has declined by 23.4%. The narcotism rate in the republic it invariably less that on the average in the Russian Federation. On results of the last year it is expected, that figures of statistics will confirm positive result of the program implementation.

In all towns and regions there operate municipal antinarcotic commissions, within the scope of the Youth-Friendly Clinic project preventive clinics opened in Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga and Segezha, groups of volunteers, engaged in preventive maintenance of narcotism among their contempoparies work in regions of the republic, narcotism rate is monitored constantly among population of the republic. In Karelia there operates the system of training of experts in preventive maintenance of using psycho-active substances by teenagers and generation of healthy way of life, youth and public associations receive government support for realization of projects and programs for preventive maintenance of narcotism distribution.

As a whole,Ervand Hidishian has noted, the results achieved testify to efficiency of the program approach in generation of the government antinarcotic policy in the republic.

Officers of power ministries have worked effectively last year: Department of the Federal Service of Russia for the RK have detected 420 crimes related to illegal circulation of drugs. 4 organized criminal groups have been taken out of the drug circulation. A large channel of distribution of strong substances of anabolic steroids group in sports institutions of republic was liquidated. The volume of the withdrawn drugs in comparison with 2007 has grown by 24%. Preventive work is held in all the large enterprises.

Now it is necessary to plan further work of all departments interested in liquidation of narcotic traffic and protection of youth from fatal influence of drug dealers. Head of Karelia has especially emphasized necessity to continue this work. "It is no accident we have brought this issue for discussion in the Government, - Sergey Katanandov has told. - We should not take this problem off from the agenda. In fact, struggle against narcotism distribution is not only struggle against criminal business, but, first of all, it is a fight for young souls." Sergey Katanandov has charged the Ministry of Health and Social Policy, the State Committee on Youth and other participants of this work to define volumes of necessary financial support of the program for 2009 within two weeks and submit it for consideration of the Government.