Interpellation concerning Drug-Related Deaths (No. 496)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-02-19 17:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 23
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 34m
AI Summaries: 23/23 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated Interpellation No. 496 regarding drug-related deaths, which had been submitted by members of the Center Party faction. Andrei Korobeinik served as the rapporteur. The members who submitted the interpellation highlighted Estonia's position at the top of the European Union's drug death rankings and inquired about the state's plans for improving the situation, as well as the potential impact of cannabis legalization on the mortality rate. Minister of Health Riina Sikkut confirmed that the issue is extremely pressing, noting that the number of drug-related deaths in 2023 (preliminary estimate: 117) had reached a record high. This surge was attributed to ultra-potent synthetic opioids (nitazenes) that have replaced fentanyl. The Minister emphasized that these fatalities are mostly linked to the simultaneous use of multiple substances (opioids, amphetamine, cocaine, and prescription medications). As strategic measures, the Minister highlighted the Drug Policy White Paper (2030) and harm reduction initiatives. The most crucial of these initiatives is expanding access to the opioid antidote naloxone (allowing nurses to prescribe it, planning over-the-counter sales in pharmacies, and adding the nasal spray version to the equipment carried by patrol police officers). The topic of cannabis legalization has not been considered in Estonia. The Minister referenced evidence-based studies indicating that legalization is linked to increased usage and the exacerbation of mental health issues (psychoses, addiction, accidents), even though some contradictory studies in the USA have noted a weak positive effect on reducing opioid-related deaths. During the debate, Mart Helme and Jaak Valge raised concerns regarding the link between drug proliferation and the rise in HIV infections, as well as the lack of control at the southern border. They suggested that movement originating from the war zone (Ukraine) could potentially introduce new waves of drugs into Estonia. Minister Sikkut confirmed that the government is not preparing for cannabis legalization and stressed the necessity of inter-ministerial cooperation to ensure public health.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Mart Helme (right) was very active during the negotiations and the Q&A session, bringing broader political and security aspects into the discussion, and linking the increase in drug deaths to immigration and the lack of border control.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This agenda item concerns Inquiry No. 496, submitted on May 15, 2023, regarding drug-related deaths, and the rapporteur is Riigikogu Member Andrei Korobeinik.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik submitted an inquiry focusing on Estonia's high rate of drug-related deaths compared to the European Union, and asked whether the availability or legalization of cannabis, along with the ministry's plans, could potentially reduce the number of fatalities and move the country down from the top of the ranking.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi called upon Health Minister Riina Sikkut to answer the interpellators' questions from the Riigikogu podium.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that the number of drug deaths in Estonia has significantly increased in recent years, primarily due to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes, and the solution involves prevention, treatment, and harm reduction, wider availability of naloxone and equipping the police with the nasal spray version, legislative changes, safer consumption rooms in the future, early warning, and better availability of healthcare services, all aimed at reducing drug deaths and saving lives by 2030.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and notes that there are additional questions from the floor, inviting Andrei Korobeinik to respond.
Andrei Korobeinik
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrei Korobeinik noted that although the US example was not encouraging (due to the rise in opioid deaths), three studies indicate the opposite. For instance, increasing the availability of cannabis could potentially lead to a drop in the number of deaths by about 17%, although causality is difficult to prove. He therefore requests the available studies from the minister and asks whether the increase in mental health problems is strongly evidenced by research or if it is merely a general assertion.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut stated that following the legalization of cannabis, there is a lack of strong evidence showing a significant increase in opioid deaths, and while some indicators show a positive effect, overall harms are growing—cannabis products are becoming stronger, cannabis poisonings among children are increasing, and the number of psychoses, addiction cases, traffic accidents, and other accidents is rising. The primary medical argument is that cannabis is addictive and can induce psychoses in people with a predisposition to mental health issues.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi calls Jaak Valge to the stage.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasizes that the spread of hard drugs is linked to the spread of the HIV virus through syringes, and although the number of HIV infections has grown significantly in recent years, the reason cannot be the introduction of new drugs to the market. He then asks what other reason could be behind the increase in the number of drug-related deaths.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut describes how the HIV epidemic in Estonia began in 2001 among injecting drug users and eventually spread to the general population. She emphasizes the need for increased testing and awareness, given that Estonia has consistently ranked among the highest in Europe for HIV infection rates.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme confirms that the inquiry focuses on deaths related to narcotics, emphasizes the opposition to cannabis legalization, and asks whether its lobbyists will never gain access to the offices of government members.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut confirmed that no one in Estonia is preparing a decision on the legalization of cannabis, and officials are not carrying out preparatory work for it; instead, they review studies should the question arise.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme highlighted the insufficient control of the southern border, the influx of people into Estonia because of the war in Ukraine, and the rising availability of drugs, questioning how effectively the government is working to prevent Estonia from turning into a drug transit route.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is simply a request to invite Mart Helme to speak.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi's speech was simply a thank you.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme asks if this isn't already causing an epidemic problem for us.
Terviseminister Riina Sikkut
AI Summary
Riina Sikkut said that preventing the spread of narcotics and reducing the associated health risks is the shared responsibility of state institutions. Using the example of Ukraine, she demonstrated how healthcare reforms—including making antibiotics prescription-only drugs—and the sobriety of soldiers are crucial for protecting health.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The representative of the interpellators has the right to speak first, but with Andrei Korobeinik's permission, Mart Helme was asked to speak first, and Andrei immediately agreed to yield his turn.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stated that previous preventative measures helped keep HIV under control, but the current situation indicates that control over the movement of narcotics between Estonia and Ukraine has been lost, and the problem demands attention, a point illustrated by historical examples from Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address is a request for three more minutes.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stated that the heroin addiction among Soviet soldiers and the spread of drug abuse that took place in Afghanistan were significant factors that paved the way for the explosive spread of drug addiction in Russia and elsewhere across the territory of the former Soviet Union following its collapse. He added that the issue is broader than just healthcare; it is a matter of politics, law enforcement, and border control, which must be addressed through cross-party cooperation while maintaining moral barriers. He stressed that cannabis must not be legalized, as it merely paves the way for stronger narcotics like cocaine.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the discussions and announced that the proceedings on this agenda item have been concluded.