Taiwanese Drug-Addicts Top 400,000 in NumberA conservative estimate shows that the number of Taiwanese who abuse drugs has exceeded 400,000 and 60 percent of them are juveniles under 18. The fast growth in number and younger in age of drug-takers has become a major crisis of the Taiwanese societyIt is reported that at a recent seminar held in Taipei, several experts who have long been engaged in helping people quit drug-taking and treating such persons released the said number and made an appeal. They pointed out that according to official statistics, there are about 200,000 drug-abusing criminals in Taiwan, however, the actual number doubles that and the situation regarding juvenile drug-takers is much more serious than imagined, among whom some are only eight years old. Moreover, because the frequently used amphetamine and other drugs are much cheaper than traditional ones such as heroin and so most juveniles can afford to buy them, they are becoming so terribly popular that quite a few girls also suffer from them. These experts pointed out that the practice of drug-abuse among juveniles not only worsens the public security of Taiwan, but also seriously effects the health of the public. Therefore, they appeal that the Taiwan authorities should intensify crackdown on drug taking and stressing anti-drug education, it is especially necessary to tell juveniles about the terrible harm done by drugs to people's health. |
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