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NUMBER OF REGISTERED DRUG USERS IN ARMENIA PASSES 5,000
14:12, February 25, 2015
Gayane Sargsyan
There are 60 intravenous drug users registered at the Lori Provincial
Neuro-Psychiatric Dispensary in the northern Armenian town of Vanadzor.
Another 90 are registered as those getting medical counseling. Most
of the registered drug users are from Vanadzor and the Gougarq region.
There are no adolescent or women registered as users. The youngest
registered user is 21, the oldest 52.
Drug specialist Hovhannes Amirkhanyan, who has worked at the dispensary
for the past seven years, believes the number of drug users is several
times more than the number registered.
In the past two years, the number of in-patients at the dispensary has
dropped from 14-15 to 6-7. In-patient treatment, according to state
regulations, lasts for twenty days. The state pays 6,500 AMD (US$13.58)
per day of treatment (medications, meals, wages of staff, etc.)
Amirkhanyan believes the drop in in-patient cases is due to the
inclusion of methadone treatment.
There are 20-30 patients at the Lori dispensary receiving methadone
treatment annually.
"Most of the users who have filed for treatment and have been cured
have been in the methadone program," says Amirkhanyan.
However, many users avoid being treated at the dispensary given
that the drug unit isn't separated from other units. Those with
psychological problems get treated alongside drug users.
"It would be better for the drug unit to be separate, but given our
resources that isn't possible," says Amirkhanyan.
Every year, the number of patients receiving methadone treatment in
Armenia is inching up. In 2009 the number was 32. It rose to 111 the
following year, 160 in 2011, 116 in 2012, and 312 in 2013.
Overall, the number of drug users in Armenia has been on the rise
as well.
According to a 2014 national report on drug usage in Armenia, there
were 1,686 registered drug users in the country in 2009. The number
rose to 3,893 in 2011 and 4,922 in 2013.
Today, the number has passed 5,000.
http://hetq.am/eng/news/58710/number-of-registered-drug-users-in-armenia-passes-5000.html
From: Baghdasarian
14:12, February 25, 2015
Gayane Sargsyan
There are 60 intravenous drug users registered at the Lori Provincial
Neuro-Psychiatric Dispensary in the northern Armenian town of Vanadzor.
Another 90 are registered as those getting medical counseling. Most
of the registered drug users are from Vanadzor and the Gougarq region.
There are no adolescent or women registered as users. The youngest
registered user is 21, the oldest 52.
Drug specialist Hovhannes Amirkhanyan, who has worked at the dispensary
for the past seven years, believes the number of drug users is several
times more than the number registered.
In the past two years, the number of in-patients at the dispensary has
dropped from 14-15 to 6-7. In-patient treatment, according to state
regulations, lasts for twenty days. The state pays 6,500 AMD (US$13.58)
per day of treatment (medications, meals, wages of staff, etc.)
Amirkhanyan believes the drop in in-patient cases is due to the
inclusion of methadone treatment.
There are 20-30 patients at the Lori dispensary receiving methadone
treatment annually.
"Most of the users who have filed for treatment and have been cured
have been in the methadone program," says Amirkhanyan.
However, many users avoid being treated at the dispensary given
that the drug unit isn't separated from other units. Those with
psychological problems get treated alongside drug users.
"It would be better for the drug unit to be separate, but given our
resources that isn't possible," says Amirkhanyan.
Every year, the number of patients receiving methadone treatment in
Armenia is inching up. In 2009 the number was 32. It rose to 111 the
following year, 160 in 2011, 116 in 2012, and 312 in 2013.
Overall, the number of drug users in Armenia has been on the rise
as well.
According to a 2014 national report on drug usage in Armenia, there
were 1,686 registered drug users in the country in 2009. The number
rose to 3,893 in 2011 and 4,922 in 2013.
Today, the number has passed 5,000.
http://hetq.am/eng/news/58710/number-of-registered-drug-users-in-armenia-passes-5000.html
From: Baghdasarian