5 Apr 2016 11:55

Drugs kill 8,000 Russians a year - Health Ministry

MOSCOW. April 5 (Interfax) - Some 8,000 Russians die of an overdose each year, chief freelance substance abuse specialist of the Russian Health Ministry Yevgeny Bryun has said.

"Some 8,000 people die of an overdose of drugs and psychotropic substances in this country every year, and another 35,000 are hospitalized with drug poisoning," he said at a meeting of the Federation Council's drug abuse prevention board on Monday.

The solution is a comprehensive multi-level drug abuse prevention system, including interaction with minors and media campaigns, Bryun said.