Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 34 2 .6 Laos Population: 6,068,117 2 .6 .1 Overview of recent drug trends Opium remained the most commonly used drug in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) until recently . Patterns and numbers of opium use have remained similar over the past few years, with typical consumers being male farmers living in the north and northwest provinces of the Lao PDR . Recent evidence points toward a rapid increase in the use of amphetamine-type substances (ATS) in the Lao PDR . Young people tend to prefer ATS over opium . Studies involving school-based youth reported an average age of initiation for ATS use being about 16 years of age . Other studies suggest that ATS is also commonly consumed by sex workers, clients at discos, and by unemployed youth in Vientiane . While cannabis is also used in the Lao PDR, the extent of its use is unclear . 2 .6 .2 Prevalence of drug use The overall number of drug users in the Lao PDR has not been estimated . The Lao Government estimates that there are currently about 28,000 opium users . Studies involving school-based youth suggest that lifetime prevalence of drug use ranged from about 17 per cent in the capital to about 5 per cent in the provinces . The same study reported that 7 per cent of youth surveyed in Vientiane used an illicit drug at least monthly . Overall, use of ATS is thought to surpass opium use . 2 .6 .3 Drug supply Despite continued efforts to eradicate the cultivation of opium poppies in the Lao PDR, it remains the third-largest producer of opium in the world . In 2004, cultivation was confirmed in 11 out of the 17 provinces in the Lao PDR . Cannabis is also thought to be widely produced in the Lao PDR, although, unlike opium, most is destined to markets in neighbouring countries or to supply international networks . Laos is a transit country for heroin and ATS as well as equipment and precursor chemicals used in ATS production . The majority of these commodities enter from Myanmar and China . While local production of heroin or ATS has not been found in recent years, a growing domestic market and increased regional law enforcement control preventing drugs from entering the country suggest that local production is likely if not already occurring . 2 .6 .4 Drug-taking practices, risk factors and trends As stated above, there is increasing use of ATS in the Lao PDR, especially among urban youth . The public health ramifications of increased ATS use are not totally clear; however, there has been an increase in the number of drugrelated mental health hospital admissions in Vientiane recently . There is also speculation of increased HIV vulnerability associated with increased sexual risk and ATS use . 2 .6 .5 Summary table While injecting drug use is thought to be limited in the Lao PDR, there are increasing reports of blackwater opium and heroin injection, and evidence that some groups are injecting ATS . The most common route of administration for both opium and ATS is smoking, although many also report ingesting ATS . Estimated number of current drug users Unknown (estimated 50,000–70,000) Main drugs used Opium, ATS, cannabis and prescription drugs Drugs injected Heroin, blackwater opium, ATS Estimated prevalence of Unknown HIV infection among IDUs 35 Country summaries: Laos
Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 36 2 .6 .6 Country responses Policy and legislation Agreements and treaties 1961, 1971, 1988 UN Drug Conventions . Signatory to ACCORD ‘drug-free ASEAN by 2015’ strategy National drug control policy Main drug control legislation Drug control policy lead agency Based on the implementation of three strategies: prevention and rehabilitation of drug users, alternative options for illicit crop farmers, enforcement of adequate laws to fight against drug traffickers . Overall goal is to eliminate opium production by 2005 . Article 135 of the Criminal Code on Drug Trafficking The Lao PDR National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision Law enforcement bodies Counter-Narcotics Office Drug use addressed in last Yes National HIV/AIDS Plan Possession of Unclear N&S unlawful Harm reduction Very few harm reduction services exist for drug users in the Lao PDR . Needle and syringe No programs (NSPs) Peer-based approaches Yes, but limited to Vientiane with abstinence-based focus . Supply reduction Crop eradication and alternative development are a major focus of supply reduction in the Lao PDR with the goal to eliminate opium cultivation by 2005 clearly stated . Crop eradication Yes Demand reduction Demand reduction in the Lao PDR is geared toward total abstinence from drugs . Methods include detoxification treatment, primary education and harsh penalties for drug use . Treatment Drug treatment is provided through government facilities (i .e . hospitals) as well as through private clinics . Detoxification of an opium user usually involves administration of tincture of opium and herbal medicine over a 15–42 day period at an in-patient detoxification centre . Voluntary or self-referral Yes Compulsory Yes Methadone for Yes detoxification Substitution therapy No Most common type Detoxification of treatment provided Primary prevention Yes . Life skill and drug education introduced to all primary schools School-based education Yes Community education Yes 37 Country summaries: Laos
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Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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