The large majority of victims of substance abuse in Malta were treated for opiates (83.5 per cent) followed by cocaine (5.8 per cent), according to the World Drug Report 2007.

The report was launched last June by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and presents the most comprehensive statistical view of today’s illicit drug situation.

Furthermore, another three per cent were treated for amphetamines and 7.4 per cent for cannabis addiction.

Although these figures are quite high when compared to last year’s report, there is a slight improvement. In the 2006 report, 85.9 per cent of substance abusers were treated for opiate addiction while 8.4 per cent were treated for cocaine addiction.

However, in 2006, fewer abusers were treated for cocaine (3.7 per cent).

This year’s report stated that 663 people were treated for substance abuse at the Substance Misuse Outpatients Unit, also known as the Detox Centre.

According to last year’s report, at least 1,444 people were treated for drug abuse in Detox centres, rehab, and prison and community services.

In 2005, the Maltese police seized 15kg of heroin – a huge increase over the 700g seized in 2004 and the 5.5kgs in 2003. Between 1999 and 2001, the amounts varied from 1.724kg in 1999, to 5.912kg in 2000 and 2.600kg in 2001.

There was also a huge increase in the amount of cocaine base salts seized in 2005 compared to previous years. In 2005, local police seized 6kg of cocaine base salts as opposed to 0.152kg confiscated in 2004. The amounts seized in the previous two years were slightly larger – 3.7kgs in 2003 and 4.5kgs in 2002.

This year’s report stated that 1.8kgs of cannabis herb were confiscated in 2005 – which was slightly lower than 2004 (2.3kg). According to the results, the largest amount seized locally was in 24kgs in 2003, compared to almost 800g in 2002 and 2.3kgs in 2004.

In 2005, police seized 19kg of cannabis resin, a lower amount compared to 33kg in 2004.

UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said that whereas a few years ago the world appeared to be heading for an epidemic of drug abuse, growing evidence suggests that the problem is being brought under control, the.

He called for more preventive interventions and to treat the problem at source by targeting drug users.

“The lives of at least one out of every 200 people in the world are ruled by drugs. Treating those who suffer from drugs is an investment in the health of our nations as much as treating HIV, diabetes or TB,” Mr Costa said.

“Drug addiction is an illness that must, and can, be prevented and treated. Early detection tests, better therapies and the integration of drug treatment into public health and social services programmes can free people from their dependence on drugs,” he added.