Drug prevention

Despite the fact that the spread of life-threatening fentanyls has significantly slowed and the rate of deaths due to drug overdoses is at the lowest level in Estonia in 20 years, we are still at the forefront among European countries. We can efficiently tackle causes and consequences only in close cooperation with various agencies, experts, non-government organisations and local governments.

The current situation:

• In 2000–2020, 1,904 people died in Estonia due to a drug overdose.  
• A quarter of people aged 16 to 64 years have used an illegal drug during their life in Estonia.
• More than a third (38%) of 15 to 16-year-old students in Estonia have reported having used a narcotic substance during their life.
• Compared to other European countries, Estonia stands out on the basis of the young age at which people first try narcotic substances.
• Estonia is in first place for young people trying new synthetic narcotics.

Source: Substance use disorder in Estonia in 2020
Institute for Health Development

Government Committee on Drug Prevention
 

In order to strengthen cooperation, we formed the Government Committee on Drug Prevention in April 2012, led by the Minister of the Interior and aimed at strategically coordinating both the prevention and supply of narcotic substances and combining the efforts of all the relevant parties in the name of a joint goal at the highest national level.

The Government Committee is supported by an expert workgroup tasked with ensuring up-to-date and science-based information of the current situation, needs and solutions, and thereby supporting the implementation of the Committee’s decisions.

The main tasks of the Committee are:

• To establish strategic objectives and priorities in the area of substance use;
• To consistently monitor and assess the activities related to preventing and combating substance use disorders;
• To make proposals to the Government for the solution of problems related to preventing and combating substance use disorders;
• To coordinate measures and activities aimed at reducing the use of narcotics and to approve implementation plans;
• To advise the Government in solving matters related to preventing and combating substance use disorders.

Information about the creation of the Government Committee, the detailed descriptions of its tasks, the list of the Committee members, and the rights of the Committee are specified in Order No. 164 of the Government of the Republic, “Formation of Government Committee on Drug Prevention”.

Estonian Drug Policy 2030

The Estonian Drug Policy 2030 is a strategic document which formulates Estonia’s most important goals in the area of substance use, towards the achievement of which we should make a joint effort for the next ten years.

The Government Committee on Drug Prevention approved the Drug Policy on 21 June 2021. The document was prepared under the leadership of the Committee’s expert working group that engaged the relevant state institutions, stakeholders, speakers for substance users, and others. The document was prepared on the basis of the conclusions and proposals made in the final assessment report of the White Book – Estonian Drug Use Reduction Policy 2014–2018.

The following parties were engaged in the preparation of the policy: Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Research, Institute for Health Development, Social Insurance Board, Police and Border Guard Board, Tax and Customs Board, Agency of Medicines, Health Insurance Fund, Tallinn Social Welfare and Healthcare Department, Estonian Association of People Using Psychotropic Substances “LUNEST”, Coalition of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities, and county development centres.

The main reference points in developing the Estonian Drug Policy

• The Estonian Drug Policy is ambitious and dares to focus on problems that are not easy to solve in the coming years. For this purpose, the document formulates Estonia’s drug policy objectives boldly and specifically, so that they would speak to people and inspire them to act.
• Drug policy is a priority that spans different areas. Achieving the objectives requires the joint efforts of state institutions, for no one can achieve good results on their own. For this purpose, five big changes have been agreed with the institutions engaged in the document, towards which we jointly move.
• The implementation of the drug policy requires the more successful protection of interests in order to ensure public support and the willingness of decision-makers to fulfil the objectives of the drug policy. For it to speak to the broader public and be understandable to everyone, the document is as specific and compact as possible.

The agreements stated in the document form a basis for planning the activities in the area of substance use and the resources necessary for implementing these activities. The principles presented in the document are primarily aimed at state institutions, but achieving the objectives requires close cooperation with all the stakeholders.

MAIN PRINCIPLES

• We care and take note, in order to reach the causes as early as possible and prevent the emergence of problems.
• A substance user is someone who needs help. Support and help are available and seeking help is normal.
• All substance users are not able or do not wish to stop using drugs. We also support the protection of their health and life.
• The primary objective of law enforcers is to support substance users in reaching the necessary services.
• The services and interventions are user-centred and evidence-based and their effectiveness is assessed.