Municipal Drug Policy

Legislation, institutions and programs

Assoc. Prof. Hristo Bozov, MD, PhD

Deputy-Mayor of Municipality of Varna

Chairman of Municipal Drug Council – Varna

ECAD 18th Mayors’ Conference “Europe Against Drugs – United in Diversity”

National drug demand policy, is fully in accordance and coordinated with the UN Single Convention on

Narcotic Drugs and Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the Fight Against Illicit Trafficking, as well as with the European legislation in the area

of drugs.

THE NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES AND PRECURSORSCONTROL ACT

National Drug Strategy 2009-2013

Action plan 2009 - 2013

National Drug Council

National Center on Drug Addictions

Municipal Strategy for Prevention of Drug Addictions

2008 – 2011Municipal Strategy for Rehabilitation and

Reintegration of Drug Dependants 2009 - 2013

Municipal Drug Council Varna

“Program for prevention of risk behavior among children and

young people”

Component " Drug Prevention"

Municipality of Varna

“Prevention” Directorate

THE NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES AND PRECURSORS CONTROL ACT

The purpose of this Act is to regulate social relations with regard to thecontrol of drugs and precursors in accordance with the requirements ofthe international treaties to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a Party.

This Act lays down provisions establishing:

1. The organisation, powers and assignments of the relevant authorities carrying out control on the production, processing, trading, use, storage, import, export, transit, transfer, transport and reporting of drugs and precursors;

2. The measures against drug abuse and drug trafficking;

3. Drug related scientific research and expert activities.

THE NARCOTIC SUBSTANCES AND PRECURSORS CONTROL ACT

According to the risk to the public health, the narcotic substances аre divided into two main groups:

1. substances with high risk;

2. risk substances.

In the Act also are defined: all plants containing narcotics and psychotropic substances prohibited for use in the country and substances used in manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic substances classified as precursors in the illicit manufacture of psychotropic and narcotic substances.

NATIONAL DRUG COUNCIL

The law establishes a National Drug Council, as over-departmental body to the Council of Ministers.

Its main objective is to implement the state policy against drug abuse and drug trafficking.

NATIONAL DRUG COUNCIL

Chairmen of the Council is the Minister of Health.

His deputies are: Chief Secretary of Ministry of Interior and Deputy Minister of Justice.

Members are representatives of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Supreme Court, Supreme Administrative Court, Supreme Cassation Prosecutor office, Investigation Service and other ministries and departments concerned.

Chairman appoints a secretary, whose work is supported by a Secretariat.

NATIONAL CENTRE ON DRUG ADDICTIONS

National Center on Drug Addictions is a body for

coordination and methodological guidance on problems of

prevention, treatment, harm reduction and rehabilitation of

people abusing and dependent on drugs.

The center serves as a body for a specialized control of

treatment and expert body in the field of drug addiction.

NATIONAL FOCAL POINT ON DRUGS AND DRUG ADDICTION

The National Focal Point is a structure of National Centre on Drug Addictions.

Focal Point is an official partner of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), as well as a participant in the European Information Network on Drug and Drug Addiction (REITOX).

NATIONAL DRUG STRATEGY 2009-2013

The strategy covers two main components - drug demand and

drug supply reduction and three crossed components - public information system and scientific research, national coordination and international cooperation and improvement of legislation.

The strategy is based on an integrated and balanced approach in which demand and supply reduction are mutually supportive elements in drug policy.

An Action Plan has been developed to implement the National Drug Strategy. It contains concrete measures for demand and supply reduction, deadlines for their implementation and responsible institutions.

MUNICIPAL DRUG COUNCIL - VARNA

The Council is a collective body for management and coordination of drug demand reduction on municipal level.

The Council is established in 2001 by decision of Municipal Council - Varna.

Chairman of the Council is the Deputy-Mayor of Varna.

Deputy Chairman is the Director of Directorate “Prevention”.

Council members are heads of institutions and NGOs.

MUNICIPAL DRUG COUNCIL - VARNA

The main objective of the Council is to develop and conduct municipal drug prevention policy by adopting annual action programs.

The Council's work is in accordance with the:

National Drug Strategy 2009 -2013

Municipal Strategy for Prevention of Drug Addictions 2008 – 2011

Municipal Strategy for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Drug Dependants 2009 - 2013

An executive body of Municipal Drug Council is Directorate “Prevention“.

MUNICIPALITY OF VARNA, DIRECTORATE “PREVENTION”

Directorate “Prevention” is an executive body of Municipal Drug Council.

Directorate “Prevention” integrates structures and programs for prevention of different social problematic aspects among youth and children:

drug prevention and reintegration of drug addicts; prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infectious diseases; prevention of human in trafficking and protection of victims; prevention of antisocial behavior and offences among children.

MUNICIPAL STRATEGY FOR PREVENTION OF DRUG ADDICTIONS - VARNA, 2008 - 2011

Adopted by District Council on drugs – Varna.

The goals, objectives and activities of the strategy are based on a balanced and integrated approach.

The adverse consequences of drugs are well known and the success of drug prevention policy depends on joint efforts of all parties concerned.

Components – prevention and training; information and evaluation; management and coordination; international cooperation.

MUNICIPAL STRATEGY FOR PREVENTION OF DRUG ADDICTIONS - VARNA, 2008 - 2011

GENERAL AIM

To reduce drug use and drug related risks by development of effective prevention programs for families, children and young people and to raise the commitment of institutions, organizations and society as a whole.

MUNICIPAL STRATEGY FOR PREVENTION OF DRUG ADDICTIONS - VARNA, 2008 - 2011

PRINCIPLES:

Priority of drug prevention in the municipal policy;

Balance of the approaches (universal, selective, indicative prevention) and target groups (community, schools, families);

Stability of prevention policy by providing of steadiness of funding;

Evaluation of the programs, based on need assessment and effectiveness;

Raising the awareness of the society by support of the activities of NGOs and volunteers and delivering of information campaigns;

Partnership and cooperation with local, national and international institutions and organizations;

Municipal Strategy for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Drug Dependants 2009 - 2013

Municipal Strategy for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Drug Dependants is adopted by Municipal Council and is the first municipal program document of its kind in Bulgaria;

The strategy is based on the current principles and good practices considering European program documents and guidance;

Main aim of the strategy is to reduce drug related social and health adverse consequences by building and sustainable development of affordable, effective, balanced and integrated approach for rehabilitation and reintegration;

Main components of the strategy are: programs and structures; monitoring and evaluation; training and supervision; coordination and cooperation; management and funding.

Municipal Strategy for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Drug Dependants 2009 - 2013

With respect to structures and programs priority is given to the following programs:

Day-care centers (drug free) for individual, family and group therapy;

Centers for structured long-term behavioral modification (therapeutic community);

Centers for temporary accommodation (“Protected house” type);

Centers/programs for social reintegration and counseling;

Basic principles of the programs are: considering the real needs of the clients, tolerance and spontaneity.

By adopting drug strategies and programs for prevention and reintegration, Municipality of Varna and its partners commit themselves to

make every effort to reduce drug related problems and to establish themselves as

reliable and trustworthy partner in the implementation of

national and European drug policies

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention!!