By Marinos Pavlikas:
SIMERINI newspaper (4/6/2017)
First students in the province in smoking and alcohol - They also experiment with cannabis
The data raise concerns about students' access to the substances and the gap in the implementation of legislation to prohibit their distribution to minors.
The need to create accessible support centers for juvenile drug users was noted at a recent meeting by the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, highlighting significant weaknesses in the access of minors to provincial treatment centers.
The Anti-Drug Council of Cyprus is promoting important programs with the ultimate goal of supporting minors, preventing substance abuse and increasing access to treatment all over Cyprus and especially in the provinces where there are not enough programs
Concerns are being raised about the research conducted by the Cyprus Anti-Drug Council on drug use, smoking and alcohol consumption (see page 49) by students. According to the findings of the research, the students of the province of Famagusta are ranked first in terms of alcohol consumption, while they declare to be regular smokers.
The data raise concerns about students' access to the substances and the gap in the implementation of legislation banning the distribution of substances to minors.
On the other hand, the research highlights the need to strengthen the prevention and treatment of drug users and other addictive substances at the provincial level in accordance with the National Drug Policy and Alcohol, which has been drafted as the Supreme Coordinating Body of the Anti-Drug Council.
According to official statistics from the ASK, students in free Famagusta (aged 16) are ranked first with a rate of 26,7% for regular smokers on a daily basis, followed by the province of Limassol (19%).
The first place is occupied by the students of the province and in alcohol since 22,8% of the minor students in free Famagusta stated that they got drunk in the last month with Paphos second (17,2%). This first extends to the general population of the province (15-64 years), since a percentage of 28,5% indicates excessive alcohol consumption.
The province of Famagusta also holds high rates for test cannabis users, with 13,2% of the general population (15-64 years old) stating that they have tried cannabis at least once in their lives. First in the relevant ranking is the province of Nicosia with a percentage of 13,4%.
Drug users are not declining
The number of drug users has been steady in recent years in the region of the free province of Famagusta. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, out of a total of 1030 arrests for drug cases in 2016, 167 concerned the province of Famagusta, while in the first quarter of 2017, 38 arrests were recorded.
According to statements by the Spokesman of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Stelios Sergidis, in SIMERINI, the province of Famagusta is no exception in terms of the number of addicted drug users. Nevertheless, Mr. Sergidis identifies deeper socio-economic causes that lead to high rates but also to a reduction in the age limit for "experimental" users and the influence of adolescents on substance use. The rapid economic growth of the region, the growing trend of tourism, especially during the summer months and the economic crisis itself are the deepest causes, according to Mr. Sergidis, which lead to the testing or use of substances by students. .
The YKAN spokesman did not fail to note the coordinated campaigns carried out by the Police in the coastal areas during the summer months with the aim of increasing drug control measures.
Need to staff provincial treatment centers for minors
The need to create accessible support centers for juvenile drug users was noted at a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, highlighting significant weaknesses in the access of minors to provincial treatment centers. According to DISY MP Annita Dimitriou, significant shortages are observed today in the provinces of Larnaca and Paphos, in terms of the treatment program for minors.
Regarding the province of Famagusta, according to the Cyprus Anti-Drug Council, the program of the Prevention and Counseling Station "Achilleas" (KENTHEA), was further strengthened in 2016 with specialized services, such as the operation of a Cooperation Protocol governing the process of transferring young people arrested. the Police and students in treatment centers and the development of the counseling program in order to cover the needs of the substance addicts in Famagusta.
At the same time, in 2016, the preventive program for Multilevel Support for Adolescents, funded by the Achilles Prevention and Counseling Station, was awarded, which is in line with the National Strategy of the ASK and the priorities of prevention.
Development of programs by the Anti-Drug Council
The Anti-Drug Council of Cyprus is promoting important programs with the ultimate goal of supporting minors, preventing substance abuse and increasing access to treatment all over Cyprus and especially against the provinces where several programs do not work. For this purpose, important programs have been developed such as:
• Implementation of an innovative pilot program of timely targeted intervention for children and adolescents 8-15 years old and their families. The program also aims to support children and adolescents addicted to psychological support, educational support and creative development services in the fields of sports, culture and art.
• Implementation of a "Walk" program through which a mechanism was created to promote and implement alternative afternoon activities and meet learning needs of vulnerable groups of children living in the free Province of Famagusta. The program was implemented from October 2012 to June 2013.
• Implementation of a prevention program in the free province of Famagusta "Community Service for the Support of Family, Children and Adolescents". The program was implemented by the Association of Social Workers in communities of the free province of Famagusta. The overall purpose of the program was to provide multi-level support services to communities in the Famagusta Free Zone, through the creation of a specific social and psychological support service, alternative activities and / or interconnection with other structures / services, which is accessible. in all categories of vulnerable groups of the province's population. The ultimate goal of the program was to support vulnerable groups in preventing the use of addictive substances and providing programs in high-risk areas, as well as developing actions aimed at creating a deterrent environment for use. The program was implemented from January to August 2015.
• Implementation of a timely targeted intervention program for children and adolescents aged 8-15 and families. This program provides free services of psychological support, educational support and creative development in the fields of sports, culture and art, in the Provinces, Nicosia, Famagusta and Limassol with a period of implementation from December 2015 to September 2016.
• Strengthening "Achilles" programs in the District of Famagusta and the goal for 2017 is to strengthen the Treatment Structure in the District of Paphos, both for the purposes of its application "On the Treatment of Accused and Convicted Users or Suspended Persons of Independent Persons, 2016" but also for purposes persons deriving from the application of the referral protocol.
• Facilitate access to treatment by creating a roadmap coverage mechanism.
The Achilles Prevention and Counseling Station (KENTHEA)
The Prevention and Counseling Station "Achilleas" (KENTHEA) has been operating in the Famagusta since 2009 and is financially supported by the Municipalities and Communities of the wider province.
According to the Head of the Prevention Department, Snow White Papamichael, the "ACHILLEAS" station, at this stage, operates in the Prevention and Counseling sector, while it employs two registered clinical psychologists, an occupational therapist in the field of counseling and a prevention officer.
The inauguration of the new Station housed in Avgorou took place last Friday on the occasion of the World Day against Dependencies on June 26th.