The dialogue between power authorities and drug users runs along four main directions:

LAW, ECONOMY, HEALTH AND CULTURE.
Each of these directions in one way or the other is interrelated with the others in this row. Between these directions a certain balance should be maintained which presents behavior norms appropriate to the current state of public development.
In the life of a drug user, under the current drug policy, the first three spheres prevail over the fourth one. What does this mean?
The law is a completely autonomous and totalitarian environment for a drug user.
The economy of a drug user is influenced by the political situation and drug trafficking, i.e. practically is not under the drug user's control.
The health of a drug user nowadays is being cared for and supported by different drug service programs, which set up certain norms for him.
The culture is left out, a neglected but perspective feature of a drug user community.
Neglected - because the cultural self-appraisal is so low, that sometimes it doesn't permit a drug user not to get infected with HIV, to say nothing about a global revaluation of values.
Global because for every drug addict to stop using means to begin living again.
Perspective - because by raising his cultural level the drug user will enable himself to meet the requirements of the other three spheres, which can change his attitude to life in general.

In the chain of social management - power authorities - GOs - NGOs - self help organizations - drug users - we can see that the drug user self help organizations is the nearest step to drug users themselves. That is, at this stage it is the place where drug users can touch upon their cultural basis in an organized way. Self help groups suit this purpose in the best way possible. This basis can serve for the development of cultural needs of drug users. Here interest groups begin.
A practical instrument which can help to stimulate users' interest to the cultural aspect of their life can be the organization of subject trainings, participation in the actions, meetings with famous and interesting people, visiting cultural places - museums, exhibitions, theatres. This model can become an example for the public and policy makers to decide in favor of people using drugs.

In Moscow the interests of Drug Users are represented by Drug Users Activists Self-Help Organization "Kolodets". Finishing 1,5 years of self-help activities we came to realize the special need for the cultural development among drug users.
In this regard we consider creating and developing a cultural center for drug users a very important issue.