On May 14, 2024, the next meeting was held in the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the purpose of discussing measures implemented by the mass media within the framework of the fight against illegal drug trafficking and drug addiction with the participation of Ali Ahmadov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Chairman of the State Commission for Combating Drug Addiction and Illegal Trafficking in Narcotics.
During January-March of the current year, the results of the work carried out by the mass media in te fight against the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and the fight against drug addiction and the tasks ahead were discussed at the event.
At the meeting, Chairman of the State Commission for Combating Drug Addiction and Illegal Trafficking of Narcotics, Ali Ahmadov noted that necessary measures are being taken to increase the effectiveness of the fight against drug addiction and illegal trafficking of drugs, and to further strengthen and ensure the continuity of propaganda and educational work. Law enforcement agencies strengthened the fight against illegal drug trafficking by using modern telecommunication and information facilities, large and especially large quantities of various types of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were confiscated from illegal traffic and destroyed based on court rulings. At the same time, the number of detected crimes, the amount of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances seized from illegal circulation, and the number of deaths due to overdose of narcotic drugs have decreased.
At the same time, statistical indicators for cities and regions with a large number of registered drug users were analyzed, concern was expressed about the increase in facts related to use, anti-narcotic propaganda should be organized using modern information technologies to prevent such cases, illegal drug trafficking and the spread of drug addiction. It was brought to the attention of the participants of the event that the mass media should systematically carry out relevant work in the direction of prevention through education.
At the event, the Chairman of the Audiovisual Council, Ismet Sattarov, reported on the results of the monitoring conducted by the mass media within the framework of the fight against illegal drug trafficking and drug addiction during January-March of the current year, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company Rovshan Mammadov, Azerbaijan Chairman of the Board of the State Information Agency Vugar Aliyev, Member of the Milli Majlis, editor-in-chief of the Azerbaijan newspaper Bakhtiyar Sadigov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Ahmed Ismayilov, General Director of Public Television Balakishi Gasimov, General Director of "Khazar TV LLC" Murad Dadashov, "Azad Azerbaijan Teleradio" The head of Broadcasting Company Azer Khalilov and the deputy director of Real Analysis Information Center Mahir Mammadov spoke about the importance of wider media coverage of drug addiction"s harm to society and human health, taking into account the mentioned recommendations.
In the current year, a total of 10,546 broadcasts of social media presented by the relevant state institution were made through television channels, 55 special programs were organized with the participation of experts in the media, and the author"s plots were prepared on the harm of drug addiction.
As a conclusion of the meeting, appropriate recommendations were made on the opportunities of online media and social networks should be widely used in carrying out propaganda work against drug addiction ensuring continuity and increasing the number of special programs expressing the risk factors of the use of psychoactive substances, harmful effects on human health and the essence of the problem, including involving doctors-narcologists to those shows, carrying out journalistic research in regions with statistical indicators of cities and regions with a large number of drug users, further strengthening of cooperation between relevant state institutions and mass media, as well as preparation of effective and effective new social media through grant projects allocated to non-governmental organizations, and also decisions were made regarding their wide coverage in the mass media.
