24/06/2007 00:00:00
Cyprus: Cannabis most common drug
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CANNABIS is the most commonly used drug in Cyprus, with almost seven per
cent of the island’s population admitting to using it at least once.
The findings were announced by the Cyprus Monitoring Centre for Drugs
and Drug Addiction (EKTEPN), as part of its 2006 survey.
The Head of EKTEPN, Neoclis Georgiades, said men were more frequent drug
users than women.
Cyprus obtains one of the lowest percentages in the EU for the use of
illegal substances, but cocaine and ecstasy abuse in Cyprus is above
European averages.
The survey also showed that 3.3 per cent of Cypriot students have
admitted to trying drugs, while the average age of people who use drugs
is between 20 and 24.
Just over 87 per cent of users are men, and they begin using drugs while
serving in the army or during their studies.
Georgiades said that there were three deaths every two months in 2006,
related to illegal substances.
Drug Squad Chief, Charalambos Ioannou, announced that according to his
department’s statistics, drug abuse had increased in 2006, as well as
the first five months of 2007.
Health Minister and Chairman of the Anti-narcotics Council Charis
Charalambous said his council had prepared a leaflet, which is currently
being distributed, warning of the dangers drug abuse entails.
On his part, Justice Minister Sophoclis Sophocleous said the police, and
especially the Drug Squad, were on the first line of battle against drugs.
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=33205&cat_id=1
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12631
Author:
via UKCIA
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