Roundup: Increased drug overdose deaths in Italy of great concern: experts

The increasing frequency of drug-related deaths among Italian youth may be an act of "social terrorism," experts told Xinhua.

At least half a dozen young people died from drug overdoses this summer, and many more have been rushed to hospitals after drug experiences.

"Drugs have always been around, but what is different now is the influx of low price and low quality drugs from Afghanistan," Sabrina Magris, a security and anti-terrorism expert and president of the International University School, said in an interview.

Magris said the new and inexpensive drugs reaching Italy are often contaminated and risky for the drug user. But perhaps more importantly, the influx forces other producers of marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and other drugs to compete based on price, forcing them to cut corners, ending up with a more dangerous product.

"The end result is that it helps destabilize the country," Magris said. "It's a kind of social terrorism."

Magris said the rise is tied indirectly to the growing migrant crisis in that the arrival of migrant vessels helps identify weak points in Italy's border control, making it easier for drug runners to penetrate the country.

The trend has caught the eye of police. Giovanni de Sabato, director of one of the regional police stations in Rome, told Xinhua the issue has become a high priority for law enforcement, which has been carrying out raids in an effort to curb the use of the drugs and to act as a deterrent.

According to Martina Grassi, a sociologist and criminologist, the drugs in question are much more likely to end up in the hands of young people.

"It is a question of inexperience," Grassi told Xinhua. "Most of the drug users are under the age of 21. In many cases, it's the first or second time they've ever used drugs. They don't have much money, so the lower prices are attractive."

De Sabato, the police officer, said the problem is a complicated one to confront.

Other law enforcement experts noted that with Italy's long coastline, closing the borders is not feasible, as the ongoing migrant crisis shows. Distribution rings, often tied to organized crime groups, are multi-faceted and difficult to disrupt. Efforts to inform and educate potential users are essential, experts said, but also problematic because decisions to buy and use the drugs are often emotional decisions made on the spot.

"The solution has to include a comprehensive approach that comes at the problem from many angles," Angelo Conti, a criminologist, consultant, and author, said in an interview. "That requires, research and man-hours, which, given Italy's economic issues represents its own set of problems."

Conti said the best defense might end up being word of mouth.

"Hopefully, as the tragic news of these deaths spreads, it will make young people pay more attention and make better decisions," he said. Endit