The Public Health Service reports a significant increase in drug use, especially among teenagers. Both physicians and the MVD acknowledge that the officially registered number of drug addicts does not reflect the true picture. By their estimates, at present there are about 19,000 drug addicts in Armenia, compared to about 10,000 in 1995. Most drug addicts choose not to apply for treatment because this automatically leads to criminal punishment. Currently, there are fewer than 300 patients officially registered at the dispensary as drug addicts, primarily males.
Corruption is a serious impediment to efforts to stem the flow of narcotics to and through Armenia.
Efforts to combat the problem of corruption have only just begun. In November, authorities arrested three employees of the MVD Narcotics Department and charged them with abuse of power, bribes and false arrest of innocent people as drug dealers. As a result of this scandal, the Chief and Deputy Chief of the MVD Narcotics Department were dismissed. Agreements and Treaties. In addition to being a party to the 1988 UN Convention, Armenia is a party to 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1961 UN Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol.