Illicit drug use and its health consequences in Belarus, Russian Federation and Ukraine: impact of transition.

The objective of this paper was to analyze the impact of the transition period on illicit drug use and its health consequences in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Available data were compiled to illustrate the trends and policy responses since 1991, when the countries had become politically independent and implemented radical changes in their social systems, which is particularly prominent in the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The transition period was associated with a rapid and dramatic increase in the supply of drugs combined with an increased demand, which was influenced by a range of social, economic and psychological factors. There was a sharp increase in negative public health consequences too. Inadequate policy responses might have had serious implications for economic and human development in the countries with a total population of more than 200 million people. The role of research to support policy responses is also discussed. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel