On 29-30th November a conference "Drug-free Russia" led by His Holiness Patriarch Aleksy has taken place at the St. Daniel monastery. The members of the government of the Russian Federation, representatives of the President's administration, the leaders of the Prosecutor General's Office, Departments of Justice, Internal Relations, Education and Health, and also representatives of about 40 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church - clergymen, Orthodox physicians, psychologists and lawyers took part in the conference.

According to experts' information, the number of those affected by drug-addiction in Russia reaches 3 million. However, owing to direct and hidden advertisement of drugs on television and radio, in the press and on the Internet and because of the relatively easy access to such substances for the customer, this figure may soon increase considerably.

A number of Orthodox centers fighting drug-addiction have been founded during the ten years since the Church was allowed to take part in open public service. Together with physicians, lawyers, law enforcement officers, leaders of the mass media, legislators and every one concerned the participants in the conference have elaborated the programme of preventive measures and treatment of drug-addiction, fighting it as a social and moral evil.

The conference was organized by "Preodolenie" ("Overcoming") center, which works under patronage of the Sretensky monastery.