GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES CROATIA HAS 14,000-16,000 HEROIN ADDICTS

ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday adopted a report on the prevention of drug abuse in 2001, which estimates that Croatia has between 14,000 and 16,000 heavy heroin addicts. #L# Last year 3,067 opiate addicts were registered which, if multiplied by three or five, as suggested by World Health Organisation standards, indicates that the number of heavy addicts in Croatia is between 14,000 and 16,000, said Ante Barbir, head of the government's office for drug abuse prevention. Barbir said that heavy addicts include children aged 12 or 13. He warned that, despite all efforts, half the figure are not included in any kind of treatment programme but are left to the street. Barbir stated that last year there were 53 drug-related deaths in Croatia, as well as that 95 percent of the addicts have either hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Last year health institutions treated 4,862 addicts, which was 27.3 percent more than in 2000. The number of newly-registered addicts grew by 21.6 percent. The government advocated a harsher punishment for drug traffickers, as well as better prevention and the establishment of a data base which would contribute to it. Interior Minister Sime Lucin estimated that domestic police would be more successful in intercepting drug shipments through Croatia if, in agreement with police forces in other countries, certain shipments were not allowed to pass, in order to sever international drug smuggling routes. The government said the work of bodies in charge of drug prevention should be harmonised. To that end, the government today set up a commission for drug prevention, which is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic. The government passed a conclusion adopting a United Nations International Drug Control Programme project for the collection and analysis of intelligence information in Southeast Europe. (hina) ha