Deaths among the drug users in Klaipeda region in 1993 - 2002
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Narkotikų vartotojai; Narkotikai; Klaipėda; Mirtis; Drug users; Drugs; Klaipeda; Death.
ENAfter regaining of independence, Lithuania, as well as other Central and Eastern European countries, became open for European and worldwide market, also for the market of illegal narcotic substances. Due to its benevolent geographical situation, Lithuania became a transit country. During the decade, the number of drug addicts increased more than seven times, i.e. from 13.2 cases in 1990 up to 95,3 cases in 2000 for 100 thousand of population. In 2003, even more sick with drug and toxic abuse were registered - 126,3 cases for 100 thousand of population. The highest number of drug addicts is in Vilnius County - 100.000 of population get 167 cases, second place is for Klaipeda county - 129,3 cases for 100.000 population. The number of illegal drug addicts is increasing, arousing the society’s consent, because nobody can forecast the chemical composition of illegal drug substances. Drug demand and supply especially increased during the last five years, during this period, heroin, synthetic drugs, prevailed in illegal turnover. What worries the most is that the big part of drug addicts intravenously takes opiates, most often heroin. Younger and younger people try narcotic substances, drug abuse prevails among students. Last year, the whole country was shocked by HIV infection prevalence in the prisons of Lithuania. Neighborhood with Kaliningrad region and Byelorussia brings threat that drug abuse and HIV will spread even more. Experts assert that during the coming years the number of drug addicts and death cases related to drug overdose will increase. [Extract, p. 170-171]
