These indications are cumulative figures since 1974, and are not believed to reflect accurately the situation of drug use in the country in 2000. The World Health Organization estimates the total number of drug users to be around 300,000 with the proportion of heroin users believed to be high. There is no specific indication of prevalence of the different types of drugs but it is known that heroin is easily accessible at low cost in most areas of the country, in spite of efforts made by law enforcement agencies. Whereas opium smoking was predominant in the past it has now largely been replaced by heroin as the main substance of abuse throughout the country. Recent seizures of ATS indicate that presence of stimulants is increasing in the country thereby providing the potential for abuse of methamphetamine to become a serious concern.
Important differences exist between regions in drug use patterns.
While some users smoke or inhale heroin, it is also commonly injected for either cost effectiveness or instant effect. Injecting use patterns are reported predominantly in urban, mining and border areas. Other substances of abuse are opium, cannabis, codeine based cough syrup, and tranquilizers. Cannabis is smoked or ingested with food. Opium is traditionally smoked or ingested.