Drug Abuse in the Global Village

Slovenia


EXTENT, PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE

                        Extent of Drug Abuse

Cannabis is the most abused drug in Slovenia. Heroin is becoming increasingly abused with an estimated 3000 addicts in 1993 and approximately 400 kg consumed yearly. Opium, morphine and LSD are also abused. Cocaine has appeared on the illicit market in recent years (Report 1993).

                       Abuser Characteristics

Out of the 91 persons convicted of consuming drugs in 1992, 36% were between 18 and 21, 34% between 22 and 30, 19% below 18 and 11% over 30 years of age. In 1991 (110 persons), these proportions were 37%, 36%, 20% and 8% respectively (Report 1993).

                         Regional  Variations

Drugs are abused throughout Slovenia, but most felonies for drug consumption in 1991 and 1992 were observed in the capital, Ljubljana. Illicit manufacture and trafficking offences in 1992 were the highest in Koper (South West region), Ljubljana and Celje (Eastern region) (Report 1993).

                                    Trends

Drug abuse is reported as increasing throughout the country and the age of the abusers is decreasing (Report 1993).

                             Mode of intake

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

    COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE

In 1992, 10 deaths due to drugs overdose (5 in 1991, 3 in 1990) were reported (Report 1993).

            Among the 27 AIDS cases reported as of June 1993, 2 were intravenous drug abusers (7.4%) (AIDS Surveillance 1993).

   NATIONAL RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE

                           National Strategy

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER ACTION
TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERNATIONAL
             DRUG CONTROL TREATIES**

                           Treaty adherence

Slovenia is Party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 Protocol, 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

        DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

                           Primary Prevention

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

                 Treatment and Rehabilitation

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

          SUPPLY REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

      Arrests, Convictions and types of Offences

The numbers of criminal offences and violations related to illicit drugs have increased between 1990 and 1992 (198 offences and 153 violations in 1990, 264 offences and 255 violations in 1992) (Report 1992).

                                   Seizures

Quantities of seized drugs have increased between 1989 and 1991, as shown in table 1.

Table 1. Seizures of illicit drugs 1989-1991.
                                                                                         
1989              1990            1991
                                                                           
Heroin        0.493kg         21.107kg      8.723 kg
LSD           119 units        752 units       846 units
Cannabis
 oil              5 g                 25 ml                                                -
Cannabis
 resin          0.035 kg        1.257 kg       15.000 kg
Herbal
 cannabis    2.684 kg        14.887 kg     12.640 kg
Cannabis
 plants        1 865 units     4 575 units    1 670 units
Cocaine      0.005kg         1.080kg        22.085 kg
Morphine   0.029 kg        2.580 kg       -
                                                                           
Source: Report of Slovenia to the "Kriminal Kynology 1992 Conference", Budapest, 23-25 September 1992.

                      Supply Source of Drugs

Most cannabis is grown in Slovenia, but cannabis resin originates mainly from Morocco. LSD had been manufactured in Slovenia, but following the arrest of the producer, is now mainly supplied from the Netherlands. Heroin seized in Slovenia in 1992 came mainly from Turkey (Report 1993).

                       References and Notes

** The Legal, Administrative and Other Action Taken to Implement the International Drug Control Treaties section was prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs based on Annual Reports Questionnaires for the years .... (not available by January 15th 1994).

Report 1993. Narcotics Department Report, January 1993. Ministry of Interior, Criminal Police Directorate.

AIDS Surveillance 1993. AIDS surveillance in Europe, Quarterly report No 38. 30 June 1993

Report 1992. Report of Slovenia to the "Kriminal Kynology 1992 Conference", Budapest, 23-25 September 1992.