engleski

Challenges facing the drug treatment system in Croatia

Croatia is experiencing an epidemic of opiate addiction encounters between 1995 and 2005. A non-institutional system has been created that rests on a network of regionally-based mental health centers. Substitution therapy, first with methadone and then with buprenorphine, today covers over 95% of the addicts population. The rate of hepatitis and HIV virus infections is relatively low. The number of newly registered addicts entering the system in the last three years has dropped by eight times, and the system is stable. We are facing the problem of abuse of synthetic cannabinoids and amphetamines. The challenges for better functioning of the system are to reduce the diversification of systemic therapy on the black market, especially methadone, then more significant support to therapeutic communities (NGOs), and stronger support for institutions in the field of employment of addicts.

addictions treatment ; challenges

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