Drug addiction is a problem of mankind. Although this is not a specific issue for the Azerbaijani people, our country is fighting against drug addiction at the state level. The legislative framework for strengthening the fight has been completely improved and considerable amount of work has been done to bring it in line with international standards.

 The statement was said by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the State Commission on Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking  Mr.Ali Hasanov at the meeting with Michel Kazatchkine, Special Adviser of the UN Joint Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

 The Deputy Prime Minister informed that after the Armenian occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands, 132 kilometers of the state border with Iran has become uncontrolled. This led to the  emergence of new drug transit.

 Stating that the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking was established by national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1996, the Prime Minister said that Azerbaijan has been developing a State Program to Combat Drug Addiction for five years. These programs are important from the standpoint of ensuring a decisive fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking. This year, the fourth such program has been adopted. This document covers the period 2019-2024. Over the past 15 years, the President has signed 15 decrees and 56 orders on combating drug addiction in Azerbaijan.

 Michel Kazatchkine expressed his satisfaction with the level of fight against drug addiction in Azerbaijan.