Drug Overdose Cases Rise in Russia

The State Anti-Drug Committee has published a report on the drug situation in the Russian Federation for 2019. According to the report, there were 18,053 cases of poisoning by narcotic substances registered in Russia in 2019, up from 16,336 in 2018—a 10.5% increase.

Most Common Types of Drug Poisonings

• Unspecified psychodysleptics (hallucinogens): 4,236 cases, including 89 fatal (2.1%)
• Unspecified narcotics: 4,451 cases, including 263 fatal (5.9%)
• Methadone: 3,249 cases, including 1,786 fatal (54.9%)
• Heroin: 2,321 cases, including 651 fatal (28.04%)
• Other opioids (codeine, morphine): 1,786 cases, including 1,363 fatal (76.3%)

In 2019, there were 693 cases of poisoning from smoking mixtures (spice), a rate of 0.47 per 100,000 people, which is 1.5 times lower than in 2018. Among adolescents aged 15-17, 492 cases of drug poisoning were registered in 2019.

Drug-Related Deaths and Regional Differences

The number of deaths from drug use in Russia in 2019 was 4,569, a 2.8% increase compared to 2018 (4,445 deaths). The national average rate of poisonings was 12.4 per 100,000 people, 9.7% higher than in 2018 (11.2), but 1.7 times lower than the peak in 2014 (21.4).

Rates of drug poisoning exceeded the national average by 1.1 to 2.6 times in the following federal districts: Northwestern (31.8 per 100,000), Central (14.6), Siberian (19.4), and Ural (13.5). In eight regions, the rates were 1.2 to 5.9 times higher than the national average (12.4):

• St. Petersburg (72.7)
• Moscow (24.8)
• Moscow Region (20.7)
• Penza Region (14.4)
• Chelyabinsk Region (31.4)
• Kemerovo Region (26.3)
• Omsk Region (74.1)
• Primorsky Krai (18.5)

Rates of poisoning from unspecified psychodysleptics (hallucinogens) that were at least twice the national average (2.9 per 100,000) were recorded in Omsk Region (67.3), St. Petersburg (24.1), Penza Region (9.7), and the Republic of Tatarstan (5.9).

High rates of methadone poisoning continue to be reported in four regions: St. Petersburg (24.3 per 100,000), Leningrad Region (11.4), Moscow (6.4), and Moscow Region (5.8), compared to the national average of 2.2.

Drug Use and Addiction Statistics

There are 401,200 registered patients in Russia with mental and behavioral disorders related to drug use, including 5,400 minors. Of these, 236,200 are diagnosed with drug addiction (including 511 minors), and 165,000 are diagnosed with “harmful use of drugs” (including 4,600 minors).

Sociological studies conducted by Anti-Drug Commissions show that the number of respondents who have tried drugs at least once in their lives has slightly increased and is estimated at 8.5 million people (8.1 million in 2018). The number of people who use drugs regularly or occasionally remained at 1.3%, or 1.9 million people.

Expert Commentary on the Impact of the Pandemic

Alexey Lakhov, Deputy General Director of the Humanitarian Action Foundation, commented:

“After the coronavirus pandemic, we may face an increase in drug overdoses. The situation is somewhat similar to when a person who uses drugs is released from prison. While incarcerated, they have no access to substances, and their body’s tolerance decreases. If they return to drug use after release, the dose they used before prison can be fatal. The pandemic may have caused a shortage of drugs on the market, leading people to abstain and their tolerance to drop. As restrictions are lifted and drugs become available again, people may return to use and miscalculate their dose.

Another factor related to restrictions is the lack of imported precursors for drug production. As a result, other, untested substances may be used, lowering drug quality and increasing health risks.

Finally, drug shortages may lead dealers to dilute drugs with toxic additives to stretch their supply, which can also cause more overdoses.

This is indirectly confirmed by official data. At the end of June, St. Petersburg’s chief toxicologist reported that during the peak of the pandemic, the flow of patients to the Toxicology Center decreased slightly, but is now rising again. The expert also noted that it would be reasonable to open another Poison Treatment Center in the city, as is the case in Moscow, where there are several such centers. Unfortunately, this initiative has stalled due to the COVID-19 epidemic.”