Number of drug addicts in Armenia increases by 50% yearly

According to the 2011 data of the Armenian Healthcare Ministry, 3,893 drug addicts are registered in Armenia, the Armenian media reported.

Besides the official information, there is also a calculative one, according to which there are 12,700 drug addicts in Armenia who make injections and 21,000 using cannabis. Petros Semertchyan, head of Narcological clinics, told the reporters today that the number of
drug-addicts in Armenian increases by 50% annually.

"We have a terrible growth of drug addicts in Armenia. Their number increases by 50% annually," Semertchyan said.

The specialist said in Armenia drug addicts are mostly using opium and cannabis.

 "Some 80% of drug addicts in the world are men, 20 are women,"  Semertchyan said. "In Armenia only 32 of the registered drug addicts are women. They all are from Yerevan. About 10-12 cases of deaths from overdose are being registered," he said.