National Programme on Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control and Consumption Prevention approved

Press release, 13 December 2018

The Seimas adopted the National Programme on Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control and Consumption Prevention for 2018–2028.

For the first time in Lithuania, this strategic document is aimed at assessing the problems related to alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption and potential solutions thereof in an integrated manner, while recognising that the use of psychoactive substances must first of all be seen as an obstacle to ensuring human physical and mental health as well as personal and social well-being.

The Ministry of Health states that the priorities and lines of action set by the Programme have been formulated following the consultations with society, discussions in working groups, and the external expert assessment of the drug policy pursued in Lithuania. ‘Unanimous agreement has been reached that national, local and non-governmental efforts should be geared towards assisting each member of society to avoid or reduce the harm caused by alcohol, tobacco and drug consumption and take care of personal health and well-being as well as of those of the person’s family or community members,” underlines the Ministry.

The ten-year Programme includes the objectives to delay or reduce the use of psychoactive substances; to manage, through education of the public, the risks posed by psychoactive substance use; to ensure accessible, quality, personalised, economically sustainable and scientifically based system of addiction treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services for people engaged in and/or dependent on harmful use of psychoactive substances; and to reduce physical and economic access to alcohol, tobacco products and tobacco related products in order to protect public and personal health.

With a view to reducing access to alcohol, tobacco products and tobacco related products, the Programme provides for ensuring the continuity of the adopted measures and impact assessment thereof; introducing health information labelling for alcoholic beverages; reinforcing the prohibition of direct display of tobacco products and tobacco related products at the points of sale; assessing the need for introducing generic packaging for tobacco products; implementing an excise duty policy contributing to the reduced access to alcohol, tobacco, and e-cigarette liquids, and taking other measures.

Rimas Rudaitis, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]