DRUG AND ALCOHOL USER TREATMENT INTERVENTION SERVICES IN RUSSIA - A WESTERN PERSPECTIVE/

This paper reviews the state of drug and alcohol treatment/interventio n services in Russia. The background and the development of addiction services in Russia is described, and the current problems of alcohol a nd particularly drug misuse are discussed. Current methods of treatmen t are considered, in the context of a description of the addiction ser vices in St. Petersburg. Some of the issues facing the authorities are discussed: poor training in addiction, the low status of the speciali ty, overmedicalization of treatment, and the absence of any community- based services. The lack of any harm reduction policies or practice is noted.