Reports

This report systematises the work and discussions carried out at the Regional Seminar on how to build
and strengthen balanced and evidence-based drug policies, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, in the context
of Outcome 1 of the European Union’s CADAP 7 Programme, as well as in the analysis of some
determinants of the drug phenomenon in Central Asia that the Episteme Social team has been analysing
during the year 2023. The Regional Seminar brought together delegations from the countries of the
Central Asian region and experts from the European Union, addressing complex drug-related challenges
in the region, while promoting the exchange of experiences, the adoption of evidence-based drug
policies and cooperation at regional and international level.

The schools survey was conducted in accordance with the methodology of the European School Survey
Project on Alcohol and Other Drug Use (ESPAD). Its purpose is to monitor the prevalence and patterns of use
of psychoactive substances (tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, medical drugs, illicit drugs and new psychoactive
substances), as well as behavioral dependence (for example, gambling or Internet abuse).
Data on drug use among school students and adult general population; high risk drug use; drug-related
infectious diseases;drug related deaths and mortality; treatment of drug users – are five key key indicators
of the European Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction Monitoring (EMCDDA).the basis of epidemiological
monitoring of the drug situation in the country

The questions underlined in the study requested the use of various methodological approaches. One of the
research questions is aimed at determining the level of public awareness and the prevalence of consumption of psychoactive substances (PAS) among general population. Another major research question is related
to the drug related behaviour in recreational setting (nightclubs, bars). Two different research questions and
target populations stipulate the use of different approaches and methods and, thus, imply the distribution of
research into two Components.
Component 1. PAS related attitudes and behaviour among general population
Assuming that an individual can be influenced by various social and demographic characteristics, causing
differences in the level of awareness, perception, and practice, the well-known KAP19 methodology is used
for this Component.
Component 2. Drug related attitudes and behaviour in the nightlife settings
Studying nightlife and determining attitudes towards PAS use involves specific approach, in which the peerto-peer method was most relevant for obtaining correct information.

The review includes information provided by ministries, agencies, and public and nongovernmental
organisations involved in the prevention of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, as well as in counteracting illicit
drug trafficking, the state of the art with regard to the implementation of existing national programmes,
issues related to coordination and inter-agency cooperation, and a study of the situation in this field.
Taking into account the system of statistical reporting on drug supply and demand indicators that exists in
Uzbekistan, the standards for key epidemiological indicators and guidelines for the preparation of national
reviews developed by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction were followed.

This report was prepared within the framework of the Central Asia Drug Action
Programme– Phase 6 (CADAP 6) in the component “National Focal Points” (NFP).
It uses the 2017 data.
The review includes information provided by ministries, agencies, and public and
nongovernmental organisations involved in the prevention of drug addiction and HIV/
AIDS, as well as in counteracting illicit drug trafficking, the state of the art with regard to
the implementation of existing national programmes, issues related to coordination and
interagency cooperation, and a study of the situation in this field.
Taking into account the system of statistical reporting on drug supply and demand
indicators that exists in Kazahstan, the standards for key epidemiological indicators and
guidelines for the preparation of national reviews developed by the European Monitoring
Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction were followed.

The purpose of the snapshot exercise was to describe the characteristics of the online market targeting the
population of the Central Asian countries. The exercise was undertaken during a limited time window and
provided important insights into a significant part of the drug market in the region. The main objective of
the exercise was to obtain a description of a specific part of the online market through the collection of the
following information:
• the number of online shops offering NPS to customers from Central Asian countries;
• the number of substances and products containing NPS that are offered for sale;
• the names of the substances – products containing NPS that are offered for sale;
• the number of online shops specializing in new synthetic drugs;
• the names of the substances offered by the online shops specializing in new synthetic drugs

The aim ofthe survey is to collect data that will allow to develop understanding on how the online marketplace
for new drugs is evolving. It will do so by providing up-to-date information on online shops operating on the
surface web and offering to sell new drugs to consumers in the country, in particular the information on:
• number of online shops offering new drugs;
• number and names of substances offered by the online shops;
• number and names of products offered by the online shops;
• number of online shops specialised in synthetic drugs;
• number and names of synthetic drugs offered by the online shops

The methodology and tools strictly followed the European School Project on Alcohol and Drugs. Target population were pupils in educational institutions of all Kyrgyz regions born in 2001. In
practice, 9th and 10th grades of comprehensive schools, gymnasiums, and private schools and 1st
grades of institutions of primary technical education (lyceums) and secondary vocational education
(colleges) were covered. A two-stage stratified random sampling was performed (type of schools,
classes). Strata were represented by type of schools.

This country report has been developed within DAMOS component (data collection) of CADAP 6