KHOROG, February 24, Asia-Plus - Drug addiction in Gorno Badakhshan shows a downward tendency, Imombek Kholdorbekov, psychiatrist with the GBAO regional health department, said.  

According to him, the number of drug addicts officially registered in the region reduced from 154 in 2001 to 27 in 2005.  

“As of January 1 2006 a total number of drug-depended people in Gorno Badakhshan has been 717 people,” Mr. Kholdorbekov said, noting that according to their data, number of deaths from drug addiction, especially among injected drug users, has increased in the region.

“Thus, 17 drug addicts died in 2004 from internal and other diseases as well as overdosing,” said the GBAO health official, “In 2005, 13 drug addicts died and three persons have died from drug addiction in the region people over the past two months.”