ABOUT 9 THOUSAND PEOPLE IN ARMENIA USE DRUGS BY INTRAVENOUS INJECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. About 9 thousand people in Armenia
use narcotic drugs by intravenous injections, Grigor Malintsian, the
Armenian head of the UNDP-implemented South Caucasus Anti Drug (SCAD)
program, stated at the December 3 press conference, adding that the
total number of drug users makes 80-85 thousand in Armenia. According
to him, drug users are mainly those aged 21-45, while 25-32-year-olds
are considered as risk groups.

G. Malintsian said that there is little information about under-age
drug-addicts. In 2006, only 2 under-age drug-addicts were registered,
and no under-age drug-addict was registered in the first 10 months
of 2007.

Whereas, in his words, 20-year-olds are registered as drug-addicts
with quite considerable experience. He added that studies will be
also conducted in the army.

The speaker stated that the number of drug-addicts receiving
treatment by the "state order" system is growing in Armenia year by
year. In 2001, only 7 people using drugs by intravenous injections
received treatment, while in 2006 – 108 people. In 2005, the number
of drug-addicts under control at the Narcological Clinic of Armenia
made 283, in 2006 – 384, and in the 10 months of 2007, their number
made 610.

The first deputy prosecutor general of the RA Mnatsakan Sargsian
announced that 35 kg of various drugs were seized by law enforcement
bodies in Armenia