GD government has introduced stricter regulations on the handling of psychotropic substances and opioid substitution therapy, citing misuse of the system by private companies.
GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated at a government meeting that some entities were using substitution therapy programs and the import of psychotropic medications as “a way to legally distribute drugs,” a practice he described as unacceptable.
“The import of psychotropic substances by private entities has been banned, along with substitution therapy services provided by the private sector. We suspected these privileges were being misused by certain companies, and the adopted changes confirm this. Effectively, they were treating the process as drug distribution, which is completely unacceptable,” Kobakhidze said.
According to him, the reforms mark an important step in combating drug distribution and ensuring proper management of substitution therapy.
On June 25, the government announced a ban on private involvement in opioid substitution therapy programs. From now on, only state institutions will be authorized to conduct such treatment and handle the import of psychotropic substances.
