Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 June / Trend corr. K.Zarbaliyeva / Some channels broadcast programs and films and find time for drug addiction popularization, said Nushiravan Maharramli, the chairman of the National Television and Radio Council of Azerbaijan (NTRC) in the conference on 'Role of Mass Media in Preventing Drug Addiction'.
According to Maharramli, certain prohibitions will be introduced to prevent such cases in the near future.
Maharamli considers it relevant to promote the role of the mass media to struggle against drug addiction and illegal drug trafficking. The journalists should be specialized in this regard.
Mazahir Afandiyev, the Coordinator of the Southern Caucasus Anti-drug Program, stated that the popularization would not give the expected results. Afandiyev divided the struggle against drug addiction and illegal drug trafficking into three stages.
Afandiyev said that particularly light drug was confiscated from illegal turnover during the first stage, which covered 1996-2000.
Heavy drugs have been confiscated in the second state which covered 2000 to 2006. Drugs with the chemical composition have been confiscated in the third stage which covers 2006 up to this day.
According to coordinator, now people aging 18 also use drugs while this figure ranged from 25 to 30 earlier.
It was announced in the conference that competition will be held among media to choose the best article on intensifying propaganda and enlightenment works to suspend dissemination of drugs. The articles, researches and TV programs broadcast from 26 June 2008 to 26 June 2009 will be monitored during the competition.
The conference was organized by SCAD, National Radio and Television Council, Ministry of Youth and Sport and State Commission on Fight against Drug Addiction and Illegal Turnover of Drugs.
According to the State Commission, the number of the officially registered drug addicts in Azerbaijan has increased by 3,000 people. This figure totals to 21,080 now while it totaled to 18,000 earlier.
The law enforcement agencies confiscated 181kg drugs in 2008.
Some 367 of 400 people who were made answerable for drug addiction are able-bodied people who do not either study or employed, 101- earlier convicted people and 7 - women and 1 teenager.
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