The extent and pattern of drug abuse in Viet Nam is also shifting from the rural older age groups to the younger age groups in urban areas. ATS have become available in large quantities in the major cities and in some of the larger provincial centers. Increasing intravenous drug use and continued practice of needle sharing is helping to fuel the HIV-AIDS epidemic. At the same time with the increasing drug consumption, crime rates are on the rise in Vietnam. The majority of them are young people.
Drug related crimes show an upward trend throughout the country.
Unemployment is one of the reasons leading to drug use. In rural areas, underemployment remains higher than in urban centres, with active employment accounting for only 74 per cent of the total work time in a year. Vietnam is still considered a minor drug producing country although remarkable success has been achieved in the eradication of poppy plants. The potential opium output for the year 2000 was 4 metric tonnes. There was also minor production of cannabis in the Southern provinces of Vietnam.