Russia faces a significant drug use problem, especially injection drug use, affecting about 2% of the population. In 2020, there were 18,013 overdoses from illicit drugs, with 7,366 fatalities, marking a 16% increase from 2019.

The country treats users like criminals rather than those needing treatment. Authorities prioritize establishing "draconian laws" from the drug users’ viewpoint, as shown in a 2019 Deutsche Welle story, like facing four years in prison for small drug possession.

The Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA) highlights the misuse of power in a punitive and stigmatizing environment: “law enforcement agencies have virtual carte blanche to discriminate against drug users."