Danny
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 Posted: 09/20/05 - 18:34 Post subject: 50,000 Londoners addicted to crack |
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A research published yesterday says there may be 46, 000 crack cocaine users in the age group 15 to 44. This means that one in 100 Londoners are either injecting or smoking the drug.
Researchers used sources from specialist drug treatment centers, arrest numbers and accidents and emergency departments.
This number is way beyond the expected one. Previous estimates had put the level of addiction at almost a quarter that number. It is known that drug abusers spend as much as £500 a week on the habit and that 3 in 5 users also take opiates such as heroin. Beside the increased number, there is an increase in psychiatric problems, such as paranoia and depression, as well as violent behaviors.
The good thing about the research is that ever since it was carried out, more people are accessing drug treatment services, and more problem drug users are being identified through drug testing on arrest and arrest referral.
Unfortunately, the use of this or any other drug leads to increase in sexually transmitted diseases like hepatitis C and HIV. |
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