TEL AVIV, October 9 (Itar-Tass) - Drug rehabilitation costs a tiny one-tenth of the resources needed to punish an addict, said the Head of the Federal Drug Control Service, Chairman of the State Anti-Drug Committee Viktor Ivanov while visiting Israel’s largest drug rehab center Malkishua.
Ivanov said Russia had been actively applying Israel’s experience in this field.
“A year ago Russian specialists visited Israeli kibbutzs — agricultural communities, and various rehab centers,” said Ivanov.
“Israel has developed a wide range of programmes varying according to the extent of drug addiction,” said Ivanov. “Some people have only started experimenting, others take drugs occasionally, yet even such people deserve attention as once they become addicted, rehabilitation will be a harder and costlier process.”
Ivanov believes rehab and resocialization are effective means of prevention and decriminalization, in particular among youth. He noted young people were more prone to drug abuse as they try to find themselves and get in trouble with drugs when they fail to overcome difficulties.
Ivanov appreciated drugs police’s contribution to holding crime rate in check but added network rehabilitation was the only way to reduce drug use dramatically. The Russian programme suggests simultaneous rehabilitation of 150,000 addicts.