Last week, a roundtable discussion entitled "Women, Substances, Addiction, and Recovery" took place at the Central European University in Budapest, organized by the Drugreporter Free University.

The conversation, while centered on women's perspectives, illuminated broader issues regarding Hungary's drug policies.

Péter Sárosi, founder and editor of Drugreporter, remarked that the government’s recently announced war on drugs exacerbates the difficulties faced by all individuals with substance dependencies while failing to provide adequate support for recovery.

The central issue in Hungary's approach to managing substance use is highlighted by the prevailing discrepancy in societal attitudes towards different substances.

Sárosi reflects on his university experiences, noting the stark injustice perceived when alcohol consumption is socially accepted and even encouraged, while the use of cannabis is criminalized.

Statistics indicate that nearly one-third of the male population struggles with alcohol-related illnesses, yet home distillation of pálinka (a traditional fruit brandy) remains legal, and recently, the government allocated one billion Hungarian forints to support taverns.

In contrast, illegal substances remain treated predominantly with prohibition, despite not necessarily being more harmful than alcohol.

As it stands, there is a lack of a national drug strategy and no comprehensive anti-alcohol strategy, as Hungary has not had a national drug strategy in five years.

Sárosi's personal engagement with the topic stems from his academic background as a historian, exploring the historical use of psychoactive substances among indigenous cultures.

He recounted his experience of civil disobedience in 2005 when he reported himself for cannabis use as a means to raise societal awareness about the unjust penalties faced by everyday individuals engaged in non-harmful substance use.

Following this, he underwent a diversion program for six months, which he found beneficial as it addressed not only his substance issues but also broader life challenges, emphasizing the significance of mental health support in Hungary, where overall mental health is reportedly poor.

He suggested that such support should be divorced from any punitive measures.

In a recent development, the government appointed László Horváth as a commissioner charged with dismantling drug trafficking networks.

Horváth has publicly stated intentions to impose severe sanctions on drug dealers, including the confiscation of their assets and the detention of individuals under the influence of narcotics in public safety custody.

Furthermore, proposals to amend the constitution to enforce a zero-tolerance drug policy have been discussed.

Critics argue that existing literature suggests the removal of dealers does not significantly reduce consumer numbers and often leads to quick replacements within the drug trade.

Historical precedents indicate that drug prohibition strategies have not achieved sustainable decreases in drug use, as the socio-cultural contexts surrounding different substances vary widely.

Alcohol, classified as a drug that alters consciousness, is promoted by the state, highlighting a societal contradiction regarding state policies on substance use.

Recent reports indicate a drastic surge in Ukraine's drug market, particularly concerning synthetic drugs, with a recorded increase of 4.50 points from 2021 to 2023, compared to the 0.40 point increase across Europe during the same period.

This spike is largely attributed to the enlistment of active or former drug users into the military, where proper medical screening is lacking, inadvertently perpetuating their dependencies.

Drug trafficking methods have evolved, with dealers utilizing various means to transport substances to frontline locations.

Smaller quantities are often sent by mail to nearby cities and villages for later sale, while larger shipments may be transported by volunteers unknowingly bringing packages to military personnel or facilitated by organized crime groups leveraging bribes to protect their operations.

The analysis reveals that drug sales increasingly occur through online platforms, with Telegram identified as a primary distribution channel.

These channels are easily discoverable by users, who can report dissatisfaction with products.

There are concerns that should Ukraine join the European Union, the EU might be exposed to Ukrainian drug trafficking networks, potentially flooding Europe and adjoining countries with narcotics.