President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired a meeting of the Security Council on combating drug abuse, El.kz reports citing the press service of Aqorda.
“Drug abuse destroys society, deprives many young people of their future, and poses a direct threat to the nation’s health. Global trends in drug addiction and the drug trade are increasingly concerning. Governments in many countries have begun to view the problem not only as a matter of physical and psychological dependence but also as a broad social, economic, and legal phenomenon,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
According to him, experts and scientists note that the concept of “narcotism” is broader than drug addiction, covering a wide range of social, economic, and legal issues, including in the context of national security.
The President emphasized the need to address the insufficient coverage of medical and rehabilitation programs for drug addicts.
“Many addicts and their relatives hide their problem for fear of publicity and condemnation,” the Head of State added.
It was stressed that the state’s policy should be flexible toward drug addicts but strict and intolerant toward the drug business.
Another priority, according to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, is to improve information and analytical work on collecting and processing statistical data, as well as tracking the movement of chemical substances.
The President instructed to strengthen drug prevention efforts, especially in education and information spheres. Kazakh leader pointed out the unacceptability of promoting drugs among young people, noting the negative trend of romanticizing the use of prohibited substances and alcohol on the internet and in the media industry.
Special attention was given to a range of issues aimed at improving the effectiveness of detecting, suppressing, and punishing drug-related offenses.
“The production and sale of any type of drugs must be strictly prohibited and placed under the strict state control,” the President stated.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed the need to enhance efforts to combat transnational organized crime and to identify the organizers of online drug stores and drug laboratories.
The Head of State also highlighted the importance of monitoring suspicious financial flows, which should not escape the attention of law enforcement agencies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the President reminded that combating drug abuse is impossible without the active involvement of society as a whole and issued a number of specific instructions to the Government, regional akims, and relevant state bodies to strengthen measures for preventing drug addiction and fighting the drug trade.