1st ever Drug Situation Monitoring Centre opens in Georgia

The Georgian Justice Ministry has opened the first ever Drug Situation Monitoring National Centre in Tbilisi which will have to respond to drug-related challenges in the country. 

The ministry says that to open the centre they have been “closely cooperating” with the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) over the past five years. 

Collection of information connected with drugs, analysing the information, establishing the evidence-based practical methodology, making reports and communicating with international organisations dealing with drug issues, which will help to develop, national, anti-drug policy, will be the major functions of the innovative center,” the Justice Ministry has stated earlier today. 

The centre will be chaired by the head of the Justice Ministry Department of Public International Law, who will be accountable to the Interagency Coordinating Council against Drug Addiction [which is chaired by justice minister]. 

The council includes officials from the Interior and Health ministries, from the Ministry of Reconciliation and Civil Equality, Education Ministry, Prosecutor’s Office and experts. 

Employees for the center will be hired between February  and March of 2020.

The Interagency Coordinating Council against Drug Addiction made the decision to open the centre in March 2018. 

The EU-Georgia Association Agreement and the visa deal with the EU encouraged the creation of the centre.