Pretending in order to satisfy relatives
There are more patients at the Narcological Clinic of Yerevan. In 2010, the clinic received 1,472 drug addicts, almost doubling the 760 patients received in 2009.
Head of the Dispensary Department Gayane Vardazaryan says the reason for the growth is not only because there are more drug addicts, but also because more and more drug addicts are trying to relieve themselves of the addiction.
However, the doctor says this is relative because those using narcotics sometimes pretend that they want to get cured in order to satisfy their relatives.
Gayane Vardazaryan views the use of narcotics as the strongest addiction to chemicals. The doctor underlined that there are types of narcotics which further accelerate addiction, including heroin and cocaine.
According to the expert, all circles of society use drugs in Armenia today, but heroin and other expensive narcotics are only accessible to the socially advantaged.
Gayane Vardazaryan warns that those using narcotics are already putting the future of their children in danger. "The effects appear during adolescence," says the expert.
The center's psychologist Knarik Asmaryan adds that there have been cases when people have sold their homes to purchase narcotics.
According to experts, the best way of fighting against drug addiction is the struggle against narco-business.
The RA Police informed "A1+" that 854 people were arrested for illegal circulation of narcotics in 2010 of which 21 were women and 58 were foreigners. Generally speaking, in 2010 police revealed 1,524 cases of illegal circulation of drugs, which is a quarter more compared to 2009.
