Ministry of Health, for CNA: 5 students, health problems from nitrogen balloons

2024-12-10 21:54:00, Aktualitet CNA

Ministry of Health

For weeks, CNA has been raising concerns about widespread drug use and the lowering of the age limit. CNA also sent a request for information to the responsible authorities, for data related to the increase in the use of drugs.

After the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Police, the request for information was answered by the Ministry of Health. The latter indicates that the number of patients who were treated in the Addiction and Clinical Toxicology Service at QSUT in 2023 was 491, of which 328 were hospitalized patients and 163 were treated on an outpatient basis.

Meanwhile, during the period January-November 2024, about 346 patients were treated by this service, of which 180 patients were treated on an outpatient basis.

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The largest number of drug users in our country, who received treatment at the Addiction and Toxicology Service, were from the region of Tirana.

Regarding the number of high school and 9-year-old students treated as drug users, during the period 2023-2024, 5 children of this age group were registered. They have had mental health disorders.

According to the ministry, these problems have resulted from the use of "balloons", or nitrous oxide, the use of which marked a significant increase in the last year.

Ministry of Health

However, the Ministry of Health says that the most used drug by young people is cannabis. But it turns out that the largest number of patients, who presented for specialized help, were cocaine users, mainly people over 18 years old.

In the response to the CNA, the Ministry of Health informs that the most frequent age that undergoes therapy for the treatment of drug use disorders is between 25-35 years.

It also says that around 782 people are being treated at the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Units in the 12 districts of the country.

The Ministry of Health indicates that the treatment of patients, including young people, begins with the assessment of the clinical situation, through various examinations that are carried out, as well as interdisciplinary consultations with different specialists, according to the needs of the patient./ CNA