Over 31% of Drug Offenders in 2023 Were Young People
52 information resources specializing in the sale of psychotropic substances have been identified on the Internet, with about 120,000 users covered through Telegram channels. This alarming discovery was discussed during a meeting of the interdepartmental working group on prevention and strengthening of mental health of adolescents and young people in Uzbekistan, organized under the Senate Committee on Youth, Culture, and Sports on June 12.
The meeting highlighted the concerning state of drug and psychotropic substance consumption among teenagers and young people. Over the past three years, an alarming number of criminal cases have been initiated in this direction, with more than 17,000 individuals prosecuted. Shockingly, about 30% of these individuals were under 30 years of age.
The analysis presented during the meeting revealed a steady increase in the number of young people involved in drug-related crimes. In 2021, 23% of offenders were young people, a figure that rose to 31.2% in 2023.
Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs shared information on the effective measures being taken to combat this issue, as well as plans for future prevention strategies. It is crucial to address this growing problem and protect the youth from the dangers of substance abuse. Measures must be taken to shut down these illegal online platforms and educate young people about the risks associated with drug and psychotropic substance consumption.
