U.N. Warns of Increased Deaths from Purer Heroin December 21, 2004
News Summary
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is warning health officials about the risk of a greater number of overdose deaths as a result of purer heroin coming out of Afghanistan, Fox News reported Dec. 17.The U. N. agency said that a rise in the drug's purity is expected after a survey showed that opium production in Afghanistan jumped 64 percent in 2004. Furthermore, stable prices for heroin could contribute to a rise in overdose deaths.
"We know the worldwide supply will exceed demand for illicit heroin in 2005, and that an abundant supply of heroin is likely to result in rising levels of purity and substantial increases in the number of drug-related deaths," said agency director Antonio Maria Costa. "This is already happening in northern Russia."
According to the agency, past experiences from when opium production was high suggests that Western Europe and neighboring regions are most at risk.
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