Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has spoken out against drug substitution therapy at Moscow's International Anti-Drug Forum, the state-run TASS news agency reported Sunday.
Lavrov condemned drugs as a "global danger," but dismissed “liberal concepts like drug substitution therapy” as contradictory.
“Our understanding of the essence of the problem does not implies replacing one drug high with another,” Lavrov told visitors at the event, which was held in a village outside Moscow over the weekend.
“It implies total and conscious renunciation of drug use… Our goal is a drug-free world.”
Drug substitution therapy replacing opiate substances with methadone. It is supported by the World Health Organization, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and UNAIDS, which consider substitution therapy as one of the most effective methods of treating opioid addiction and decreasing the risks of spreading HIV and other drug use-related diseases.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
![paiment methods](https://static.themoscowtimes.com/img/contribute/payment_icons.png)
Remind me later.