Near every war is accompanied by widespread drug use. However, in the case of Ukraine, drug problems were serious long before the outbreak of the conflict, and the situation is now almost untenable, writes Magyar Nemzet. Kristóf Téglásy, strategic director of the Drug Research Institute, spoke to the paper about the development of the drug situation in Ukraine.
Téglásy says the Ukrainian government is currently not prepared to deal with the drug problem that has intensified due to the war, and if Ukraine were a member of the European Union, it would pose serious risks for the entire continent. Ukraine’s drug problems are becoming increasingly serious as a result of the conflict.
According to a 2022 study, at the beginning of the war, there were more than 300,000 heroin addicts in Ukraine, and the number of different drug users exceeded 1 million. These people were left without treatment due to the war, and the question arises as to whether the Ukrainian state has sufficient resources to deal with the situation.
“They clearly don’t have enough resources. Plus, the Ukrainian government recently legalized marijuana, through a loophole. It’s allowed for so-called medical purposes and stress relief, but in practice, almost anyone can get it,” explained Téglásy.
According to a 2023 study by the Geneva-based Global Initiative, drug use is extremely widespread among frontline soldiers, and organized crime groups have set up laboratories behind the front to produce the drugs. According to the research, government agencies are turning a blind eye to the phenomenon, as several high-ranking officials have been bribed by drug traffickers. When asked whether the government will be able to take action against the drug trade, Téglásy said:
“The Ukrainian government didn’t have any real tools for this even before the war. Now all hell has broken loose. Basically, anyone can get drugs if they claim they are for stress relief, and this is extremely dangerous because these people not only stay in Ukraine but also end up in Hungary and other parts of Europe. That’s why we need to address this problem as a priority,” he said.
According to Téglásy, these gates and routes must be closed before the problem crosses the border.
Drug abuse is widespread in the Ukrainian army. Stimulants are especially popular among soldiers on the front lines, as they allow them to fight for days without sleep.
“These drugs have long been used in combat situations because they increase alertness and reaction time. The problem is that they are very addictive. They are effective in the short term, but then they completely deplete the body. In the long term, this has serious consequences, both physically and mentally,” said the expert.
Since criminal groups have made significant financial gains from the drug trade, there is a legitimate fear that this will further strengthen organized crime after the war.
“This much is clear. Regardless of the outcome of the war, drug-related crime will only grow. These groups have not only become financially stronger but have also acquired weapons and logistical capabilities. A well-armed drug mafia poses a particularly great threat,” Téglásy predicted.
The possibility has arisen that member states will accelerate Ukraine’s accession to the EU for political reasons, even if Ukraine does not meet the necessary criteria.
Kristóf Téglásy warned: “If Ukraine were a member of the EU, it would pose a huge risk in terms of the drug situation. Transcarpathia would become an internal border of the EU, and if drug trafficking continued through this channel, it would be much more difficult to combat it. The drug mafia is already strong in Ukraine, and if they appear on the EU internal market, they could cause extremely serious problems.”
According to the aforementioned 2022 study, there may be more than a million drug addicts living in Ukraine, and drug use is also very widespread among active soldiers. And since Ukraine does not have enough capacity and money to deal with the situation, it will likely ask the EU for help.
“About 30 percent of regular marijuana users become physically addicted. If we project this number onto the situation in Ukraine – where almost everyone has some kind of stress factor, family members have died, homes have been bombed – it is clear that a lot of people will become addicted. The Ukrainian healthcare system is already unable to handle this problem, and if we pass it on to the EU, it will be an even bigger challenge,” Téglásy said in closing.
