Interfax: FSKN: Drug mortality rate in Russia 20 times higher than in Japan

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – Russia has the world highest mortality rate amongst drug addicts, Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) chief Viktor Ivanov said.

“The use of narcotic drugs causes an unprecedentedly high mortality rate in the age group from 15 through 34, at least 50,000-60,000 people die each year from internal organ pathologies,” Ivanov said at a government meeting on Thursday.

In Japan, which has an approximately equal population, drugs kill “about 95% fewer people than in Russia, and the average mortality rate is 91.7% smaller in Europe,” Ivanov said.

Some 65% of all crimes in Russia are related to drugs; drug addicts commit up to 80% of robberies and petty thefts, he said.

The rate of drug consumption in Russia has grown 1900% in the past 25 years, Ivanov reported.

“The use of narcotics undermines the national economy. Eight million drug users spend 4.5 billion rubles on drugs daily and therefore siphon off up to 1.5 trillion rubles from the country’s GDP each year. This is 50% larger than the Defense Ministry’s budget and 250% larger than the budget of the Health Care Ministry,” Ivanov said.