Health Rights.am

Law of RA “On Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic (Psychoactive) Substances”

1. The medical investigation shall be carried out by the public health authority entrusted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

2. The decision on the medical investigation of the person using a narcotic or a psychotropic (psychoactive) substance at an off-patient or in-patient clinical institution, as a result of the medical investigation, shall be made by the doctor-narcologist or the therapist doctor-narcologist undertaking the medical investigation.

1. Any individual, towards whom there are sufficient grounds to suspect, that he is suffering from the drug addiction, is under the effect of the drugs or is using narcotic drugs or psychotropic (psychoactive) substances without any medical prescription, shall be sent to medical examination.

2. The medical examination of the individuals specified in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be made by the public health competent authorities on the basis of the medical investigation results or upon the application forwarded by the individual on voluntary basis.

The individuals specified in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be subject to mandatory investigation and treatment in the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

3. The decisions on sending the individuals specified in paragraph 1 of this Article for medical investigation may be appealed to the court in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

4. The expenses for the medical investigation of the individuals specified in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be paid through the state budget funds, in the manner established by the Government.

1. The individual, who without the medical prescription, rarely or regulatory in the short term uses narcotic drugs and substances and who by the medical examination at an off-patient or in-patient clinic is devoid of any imminent danger of the physiological or psychological stable dependency, shall be subject to a short-term medical observation.

2. An individual who has voluntarily received a mandatory or obligatory treatment course has recovered partly or fully, shall be subject to long term medical observation.

3. The mandatory medical observation shall be established for the patients needing long-term medical observation and, in all the cases, the individuals with up to 21 years of age.

1. The medical assistance to the drug addicts shall be provided pursuant to the requirements set in paragraph 1 of Article 47 of this law.

2. The medical assistance to the teenagers of up to 14 years shall be provided upon the application forwarded by the legal representatives, while to the teenagers of 14-18 years old, upon their consent, except for the cases prescribed by law.

3. The medical assistance (voluntary, mandatory and compulsory) shall be provided to those individuals suffering drug addiction, who without the medical prescription, regularly use narcotic drugs and psychotropic (psychoactive) substances, have acq uired a physiological or psychological dependency, as a result of the medical examination have received the diagnosis of “Drug addiction”, who is however able to at least temporarily, independently overcome the physiological and, psychological dependency o f using narcotic drugs and psychotropic (psychoactive) substances.

4. Emergencies (mandatory, compulsory) medical assistance shall be provided to the patient suffering drug addiction, who needs it, if he, without the medical prescription, permanently uses the narcotic drugs and psychotropic (psychoactive) substances, who has acquired an unrecoverable physiological or psychological dependency, has received the diagnosis of “Drug addiction” as a result of medical examination and is not able, even temporarily, without any medical intervention, to overcome the physiological, psychological dependency on the narcotic drugs and psychotropic (psychoactive) substances.

5. To those drug addicts, who are under the medical examination and without medical prescription continue to use the narcotic drugs or psychotropic (psychoactive) substances, as well as those individuals, who have been condemned for execution of crime, and need treatment, may have compulsory treatment measures established upon the court ruling.

6. The patients suffering addiction, when getting medical assistance, shall be availing themselves of the patient rights, pursuant to the legislation of the Republic of Armenia on the protection of the citizens’ rights.

7. The state shall guarantee the patients with drug addiction to get free medical assistance in the procedure defined by the Government, which includes an examination,
consulting, diagnosis, treatment and medical -social rehabilitation.

1.The state shall support in the examination of the drug addicts, their consultation, and treatment and medical-social rehabilitation.

2. The procedure for the medical observation and registration of the drug addicts shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

1. The coordination of the medical aid services to the patients suffering drug addiction, which encompasses the health organizations, shall be undertaken by the public
health competent authority.

2. The public health authority shall develop and furnish for the approval of the RoA Government such target programs which are aimed at the improvement of the narcological assistance to the public and the development of the narcological service, the development of advanced methods for the diagnosis of the drug addiction and their introduction, the treatment and medical social rehabilitation of the patients suffering drug addiction.