We are making full use of all available tools to counter the drug problem.

The government’s anti-drug program outlines a series of measures that we believe will stop an increase in the number of drug users.

Efforts are being made to tackle drug trafficking — in light of our proximity to Afghanistan — and corruption in the security forces which helps facilitate drug trafficking.

In recent years, in cooperation with the DEA, Tajikistan and Russia, we have carried out 40 special operations focusing on the interdiction of illicit narcotics. What’s more, domestically, we tackle the illegal cultivation of cannabis.

Kyrgyzstan has the most developed OST provision in the post-Soviet space, and we also have needle exchange programs to tackle the issue of blood-borne viruses among injecting drug users.