POLICY AND DRUGS KOSOVO CASE

Abstract

This paper presents the reflection of drugs as a substance and drug addiction as a social deviation problem in 
the period of occupation and transition in Kosovo, knowledge stands and experiences of Kosovan youth toward 
this problem have been summarized and analyzed. 
As a survey sample were taken 41 classes aged 7-8 and 9 from elementary schools and grades 10,11,12, and 
13 from senior-high schools in cities such as; Peja, Prizren, Pristina, Mitrovica and Gjilan and 100 students from 
the University "Hasan Prishtina"  in Pristina and University "Haxhi Zeka" in Peja. 
In the survey are included 37 chronic drug-addicted persons, who gave an additional considerable contribution in 
practical sense of this problem among the youth of Kosovo. Gender sample structure of 59% was male and 41% 
female, age groups from 13-21 years. According to the research, it was found that competent state institutions in 
general the local, continue to “keep the drug problem secret" in their environments!!! 
Even after the chain of daily tragedies as a result of narcotic substances consumption which has occurred and is 
currently continuing in Kosovan society, competent and responsible institutions do not have in disposal and are 
not undertaking any meaningful act in this direction, or at least discuss in a serious and persuasive way in certain 
state levels, except for having occasionally supported several projects of civil society which quite often resulted 
with counterproductive effect. It was clearly noticed that these two elements (state institutions and civil society) 
which in the developed and democratic societies necessarily are supposed to work and act together, contrary, 
here they operate separately and in distance from each other. 
From this research it is obvious that drugs and drug addiction has now become a part and integral part of 
everyday Kosovan society. Thus, almost the entire our young generation, is familiar with all the denominations of 
almost all  the types of drugs, even some of drug street slangs,  and a number of considerable young people 
know where it is being sold and who they can provide it from. The instruments used in this research are: 
questionnaires, interviews and conversations. The survey included 37 (thirty-seven) chronic drug addicted 
persons who have contributed to increase of understanding of this problematic practice among the Kosovo youth. 
The results of this research may be considered as: reliable, informative and alarming, which provide essential 
data for further research and study. All results warn that drugs as a substance and drug addiction as a social 
deviation or a disease is present among the Kosovan youth, but unfortunately, according to the results of this 
research, they are compelled to face this  problematic issue on their own, without an adequate care, state 
support and assistance, which elsewhere in democratic countries is firmly dedicated, both in terms of legal 
infrastructure as well as in terms of prevention, re-socialization and permanent care of the youth as a state 
priority and national asset, as well as entire humanity. 
Many countries in transition phase have allowed or kept secret the creation of wealth through the drug trade, 
conceiving it as a country development! Consequences of such paid price, logic, or strategy is paid by many 
countries, which are defined as democratic and developed.