Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Transport, USA

The meeting between the minister and deputy governor was a continuation of the closer anti-drug cooperation between Estonia and the U.S., which was launched in June 2017 when Anvelt met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, spokespeople for the Interior Ministry said.

Anvelt said that the exchange of experience between Estonian and U.S. law enforcement authorities is very important as both are tackling the same concern. "We will be successful only if we share experience and practices with one another -- both the ones that have shown results as well as those that do not work," he said.

The minister gave an overview of how the drug problems in Estonia are being handled and Rutherford introduced measures that are used in Maryland to stop the spread of fentanyl. For example, family members of drug users in Maryland are given a drug called naloxone that saves from overdosing, which was introduced in Estonia in 2013.

Anvelt in turn emphasized the importance of cooperation -- both with law enforcement officers, health experts, local governments, schools, the private sector, parents and the community in general. "When fighting against fentanyl the problem must be approached in a versatile manner, by simultaneously decreasing the availability of the drugs, the demand for them as well as the damage caused by their use. The police has successfully decreased availability, but we must deal more with the reasons why people start to use narcotics in the first place," Anvelt said.

As a continuation to the cooperation between Estonia and the United States the practical side of the fight against narcotics will be introduced in November, when a meeting of the justice and interior ministers of the European Union and the United States is to take place in Washington.

The main cause for drug-related deaths in Estonia is the extensive use of fentanyl among drug addicts. Fentanyl is a substance that is thousands of times stronger compared to other narcotics and only a very small amount is needed for an intoxicating dose.