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NEWS - MYANMAR'S Drug Addicts Reach
- Subject: NEWS - MYANMAR'S Drug Addicts Reach
- From: Rangoonp@xxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 00:15:00
Subject: NEWS - MYANMAR'S Drug Addicts Reach Over 60,000
MYANMAR'S Drug Addicts Reach Over 60,000
Xinhua
13-JUN-99
YANGON (June 14) XINHUA - The number of
narcotic drug addicts in Myanmar has reached
66,463, according to the latest figures published by
the country's Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control.
Of the total, opium addicts account for 50.01
percent, heroin addicts 37.4 percent, marijuana
addicts 7.7 percent, stimulant addicts 1.2 percent,
tranquilizer addicts 0.99 percent and other addicts
2.7 percent.
However, the U.N. Drug Control Program estimates
that the actual number of Myanmar's drug addicts is
significantly higher, totaling about 400, 000 to
500,000.
Up to now, Myanmar has established six major drug
treatment centers throughout the country, giving
treatment to about 2,000 drug addicts yearly. The
centers are respectively located in Yangon,
Mandalay, Myitkyina, Taunggyi, Lashio and Kyaing
Tong.
The country has also set up eight rehabilitation
centers to provide vocational training for ex-addicts,
which are situated in Yangon, Mandalay, Phekhon,
Namlat, Kyaing Tong, Lashio, Myitkyina and Wet Hti
Kan.
According to official statistics, there were 61,236
hectares of poppy cultivation in Myanmar that would
yield 665.28 tons of opium and could be refined into
66.52 tons of heroin annually.
In 1998, the Myanmar authorities exposed a total of
3,546 drug-related cases, punishing 4,845
offenders.
The authorities also seized during the period a total
of 10,794 kilos of narcotic drugs, including 403.8
kilos of heroin and 5,393.6 kilos of opium, as well
as 16.02 million stimulant drug tablets and
destroyed 18, 014 hectares of poppy plantations.