This publication contains overviews of reports on drug problem in respective provinces. We are pleased to present the drug phenomenon in 16 regions of Poland.

The reports were produced by provincial experts on drugs and drug addiction appointed by executive bodies of provincial governments. Both the report framework and the general principles of establishing system of collecting and exchanging information on drugs and drug addiction in the provinces were developed in cooperation with experts during training seminars held by the National Bureau for Drug Prevention. The reports also feature the information on the implementation of the National Programme for Counteracting Drug Addiction 2002-2005 in communes and counties collected yearly by provincial experts. The information is published in the Report on the Implementation of National Programme for Counteracting Drug Addiction which is submitted to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland.

The overviews of the reports form the integral part of the province reports. All the reports were developed according to pre-determined rules. They include drug-related province-specific factors such as high unemployment rate, border location; outline of the phenomenon (based on review of available data, statistical figures and research results) related to experimenting and problem use of drugs, social attitudes towards drugs and availability of illicit psychoactive substances. In the part devoted to the evaluation of the resources in hand the reports describe the actions taken in each province in the field of drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration as well as reduction of drug-related health harm. Combating crime against the Act of Law on Counteracting Drug Addiction has been presented on the basis of province data on custodial sentences and drug seizures.

Of vital importance is the fact that the reports contain the assessment of the extent of the current needs being satisfied as well as the proposals of extending the resources in place that may provide recommendations for planned actions and provincial anti-drug and anti-social pathology strategies. The reports feature numerous tables and graphs that make it easier to compare situations in respective provinces.