Well, that is one (cheap) way to kill a nation. The victims even pay for the poison! This is a health crisis for Russia, and the emergency by far higher then the flu pandemic. I am wondering how much is really invested to fight this, both internally and externally.

Yes, heroin is one of the most alienating drugs, apart from a cause of AIDS. In Western Europe heroin consumption fell a couple of decades ago and a great part of its consumers are dead. Then came cocaine and extasi chemical pills. The first one is mainly imported from South America while the second is mainly produced inside Europe. So, from a commercial point of view, at least chemical pills mean saving euro billions in imports. Cocaine is also considered more social inclusive than heroin, and there are thousands of cocaine addicts in Business and the Administration, while heroin addicts are pariah, becoming a kind of underhumans despised by the rest of the population.

The Russia is plagued by serious national problems: rampant alcoholism; drug epidemic; birth defects; disfunctional families; corruption; and, crime. No surprise at all to find in Novyye Izvestiya a report that states 30% of the Russian militia is composed of psychopaths or alcoholics. Many of the Russian children that are adopted by foreigners have turned out to have psychological and behavioral problems. Russia seems to be a nation teetering on the edge of national disaster. Hovering around Russia are vultures (China, America, N. Korea) just waiting for an opportunity to tear the carcass apart. Only a strong hand, a religious revival, people's self-discipline and patriotism, can save the Russian people.