!!!Drogen

Drugs: Any narcotic or addictive substance, in a wider sense also 
herbs and medicines. In a narrow sense, drugs can be classified as 
legal (alcohol, medicines, etc.) or illegal. The latter group includes 
both "soft" drugs such as cannabis (causing predominantly 
psychological dependence) and "hard" drugs such as heroin or cocaine, 
which cause severe physiological withdrawal symptoms.

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The number of drug-dependent people in Austria is estimated at 
10,000-15,000 (1999), with considerable regional variation. 
Drug-dependency increased in Austria considerably until recently, but 
has been stable for the last few years. In 1994, 250 people died from 
drugs, but the number has been decreasing and in 1998 came to 162, of 
which half were in Vienna. Among the dramatic social consequences of 
drug dependence are criminal offences (drug-related crime), loss of 
social contacts and health risks ( AIDS, infection with hepatitis B or 
C).

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Rehabilitation clinics and short and long-term treatment in 
therapeutic communities have been established to combat drug addiction 
(1998, 120 drugs counselling centres throughout Austria). Information 
campaigns and "low threshold" counselling centres promote 
drug prevention. The "substitution regulation" means that 
drug dependent people can receive prescribed "substitute 
drugs", intended to lead to re-integration and decriminalisation, 
together with psycho-social measures.

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Criminal offences in connection with drugs and alcohol are subject to 
special provisions according to the law on drug addiction (in force 
since Jan. 1, 1998) and governed by the principal of "therapy instead 
of punishment" (termination of proceedings, suspended sentences in 
order to implement health-related measures etc.).

!Literature
R. Brosch and G. Juhnke (eds.), Sucht in Oesterreich, 
1993; D. Pfersman and O. Presslich (eds.), Drogensucht und Therapie, 
1994; Oesterreichisches Bundesinstitut fuer Gesundheitswesen, Bericht 
zur Drogen-Situation in Oesterreich 1998, 1998; Bundesministerium fuer 
Arbeit, Gesundheit und Soziales (Federal Ministry for Labour, Health 
and Social Affairs (ed.), Jahresstatistik der Drogenopfer 1998, 1999.


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