Drug addiction among young people alarmingly on the rise, according to Bektenov.
==================================================================================================
Kazakhstan has been actively addressing the issues of drug addiction, alcoholism, and domestic violence, particularly among its youth. The government's efforts have yielded significant results, but the challenges persist.
In the fight against drug trafficking, over 6.4 tons of drugs have been seized, 474 drug offenders, including key administrators of Telegram channels, have been detained, and 21 criminal cases have been initiated against organized drug groups in the first half of 2025. However, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has emphasized that drug addiction among youth is a growing threat, fuelled by sophisticated trafficking methods such as internet distribution, postal shipments, secret stash points, and anonymous electronic payments [1][2][3].
To combat these evolving tactics, Bektenov has ordered the development of a new drug policy that prioritizes tackling the root causes of drug distribution. He also emphasized the need to enhance mechanisms to detect and block drug websites and similar online advertisements, and to better control freezing and monitoring money transfers related to drug trafficking [1]. Furthermore, anonymised online reporting of drug crimes has been enabled to improve public participation in combating drug offenses [1].
The government's efforts against alcoholism have seen the identification of 107,000 instances of public alcohol consumption and 7,000 violations in alcohol circulation, with 11,000 people banned from alcohol consumption [1]. Despite these measures, the exact success metrics are not fully disclosed.
Regarding domestic violence, the Ministry of Education has been tasked with developing a mechanism for early identification and support of minors who have witnessed domestic violence. However, details on specific measures or effectiveness regarding domestic violence are less publicly detailed in recent reports [2][4].
In a bid to further improve its response, the government is also focusing on expanding the number of "sober villages" as part of the fight against alcoholism. Bektenov has emphasized the need to enhance prevention measures, strengthen inter-agency coordination, expand public awareness campaigns, collaborate with non-governmental organizations, and provide psychological support [1].
In conclusion, Kazakhstan's current anti-drug and alcoholism enforcement demonstrates strong operational activity but struggles with emerging distribution methods and youth addiction growth. The government is actively pursuing policy reform and enhanced digital countermeasures to strengthen its response, though publicly available details on domestic violence measures and their effectiveness are limited [1][2][3].
References: [1] Kazakhstan Today. (2025). Prime Minister Bektenov Chairs Meeting on Crime Prevention. Retrieved from www.kazakhstantoday.com [2] Kazakhstan News Agency. (2025). Government Discusses Measures to Combat Drug Crime, Alcoholism, and Family and Domestic Relations Issues. Retrieved from www.kazakhstannewsagency.com [3] The Astana Times. (2025). Prime Minister Bektenov Highlights Drug Addiction Among Youth as a 'Dangerous Trend'. Retrieved from www.astanatimes.com [4] The Almaty Herald. (2025). Interdepartmental Commission Discusses Effectiveness of Work on Preventing Family-Related Offenses and Providing Psychological Assistance. Retrieved from www.almatyherald.com [5] The Kazakhstan Observer. (2025). More Than 17,000 People Under Dispensary Observation for Drug Addiction. Retrieved from www.kazakhstanobserver.com
- The government's new drug policy prioritizes scientific research to tackle the root causes of drug distribution, aligning with the wider health-and-wellness and mental-health agendas.
- The increasing trend of drug trafficking using sophisticated methods has moved drug-related issues into the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, with the Prime Minister urging stricter measures to control online drug activities.
- In the general-news arena, reports highlight the successful tackling of alcoholism through enforcement, but the exact success metrics remain unclear due to a lack of transparency.
- As domestic violence cases are becoming a matter of concern, there is a growing need for comprehensive mental-health support, especially in the context of crime-and-justice for victims and their families, with more details needed on the effectiveness of ongoing measures.
