56% of Russian Children Use Drugs and Alcohol

Russian children under 15 now drink alcohol almost twice as often as they did five years ago. These figures were announced at a Russian Health Ministry forum How to Improve Emergency Child Health Care. What is more, according to the ministry's press office, the number of schoolchildren using drugs or alcohol has grown from 13% to 56% over the last ten years.

Specialists also said that the level of child injuries has increased by 17% over the last three years including domestic injuries (8%), injuries at school (11%) and sports injuries (12%).

Head Orthopedic Traumatologist in Saint Petersburg Alexei Baindurashvili believes there is currently an epidemic of child injuries in Russia. He said 'we can not simply observe the rise in the level of domestic injuries, we must actively do something to stop it.' In the doctor's opinion a special TV programme should be made on this subject and more time should be devoted to children's health education at school.