Opium & Heroin Use Is Rising, Even Among Small Children

The United Nations has expressed alarm about the rise in drug abuse across the world in its annual report on narcotics.

Of special concern is Afghanistan, where the UN says opium use is rising, even among small children.

A study released by the UN indicates that 1 million Afghans between the age of 15 and 64 are addicted to drugs -- that's roughly 8 percent of the country's population, twice the global average.

The report also expressed concern at the level of Afghan drug trafficking and the consequences for countries like Russia.

Americans have failed to create some kind of stability in Afghanistan and the tremendous corruption now devouring Afghan society fuels drug trafficking, shared Igor Khokhlov, fellow with the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow.

"The brother of President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, Akhmed Karzai, is reported to be the top drug lord in the country -- that is what the Americans themselves say," Khokhlov acknowledged.

The increase of opium production in Afghanistan hits Russia hard, Khokhlov said, adding that setting up a base in Kyrgyzstan would help to effectively control the drug flow from Afghanistan because international co-operation is always effective when fighting drug abuse, but the "basic reason lies in Afghanistan itself."

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• afghanistan
• kyrgyzstan
• russia
• heroin
• opium
• drug
• junkie
• trafficking