KHUJAND, October 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- 64 new drug-dependent persons have been registered in the Sughd province over the first nine months of this year, bringing the total number of drug-dependent persons in the region to 1,637, the Sughd health directorate head Jalil Toshmatov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the overwhelming majority of them are heroin users – 1,558 people, including 1,448 injecting heroin users.  

29 physicians and 64 nurses now work with narcology centers established at central city and district hospitals in northern Tajikistan. 

“The regional multifield rehabilitation center for treatment of drug-dependent persons was opened in Chkalovsk last March,” said Toshmatov, “In June-September alone, 40 drug-independent residents of Sughd have undergone medical treatment at this center.”