Drug-addicts becoming younger, official warns
The age of drug-addicted people in Azerbaijan is
decreasing, a health official has warned.
Afat Mammadova, who heads a department at the nationwide clinic on the prevention of drug addiction, said drug addicts in the country are becoming younger, along with the rising number of persons affected by the problem. The 32 patients registered this year even include persons aged 17, with most of them being users of heroin.
According to Mammadova, a lack of rehab centers for drug addicts in Azerbaijan is causing serious problems in their medical treatment.
Mammadova pointed out that with the widening scope of drug trafficking, the number of drug addicts in the country is rising. For instance, the figure increased from 1,874 in 2006 to 3,106 in 2007, according to statistics. As for unofficial figures, the number of addicts is estimated at about 200,000 out of a population of 8 million.
One addict, on average, encourages ten others to begin using drugs, observers say.
Afat Mammadova, who heads a department at the nationwide clinic on the prevention of drug addiction, said drug addicts in the country are becoming younger, along with the rising number of persons affected by the problem. The 32 patients registered this year even include persons aged 17, with most of them being users of heroin.
According to Mammadova, a lack of rehab centers for drug addicts in Azerbaijan is causing serious problems in their medical treatment.
Mammadova pointed out that with the widening scope of drug trafficking, the number of drug addicts in the country is rising. For instance, the figure increased from 1,874 in 2006 to 3,106 in 2007, according to statistics. As for unofficial figures, the number of addicts is estimated at about 200,000 out of a population of 8 million.
One addict, on average, encourages ten others to begin using drugs, observers say.
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