Drug Control chief says average Russian addict starts at 15April 25, 2013 - 12:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The average Russian drug addict starts taking drugs at the age of 15-16, the chief of the country’s Drug Control Service said, according to RIA Novosti. “The average age when addicts start taking drugs is 15-16 years, and the average age of those who die from diseases associated with drug addiction and from overdose is 30 years,” Viktor Ivanov said at a congress of a national volunteer antidrug movement in the city of Saransk, central European Russia. “An extremely high mortality - over 100,000 people annually - is observed in the healthiest and most active 15-34 age category,” Ivanov said. The chief drug enforcement official said 8.5 million people use drugs more or less regularly in Russia. He stressed volunteer organizations may play an important role in rehabilitation of addicts if they manage to convince them to start treatment. Some 30,000 Russians die from heroin abuse every year, according to official statistics. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |