Opium Availability and the Prevalence of Addiction in Asia

Epidemiologic data collected by several investigators in numerous communities of Asia indicate that the role of a community vis‐a‐vis opium production and commerce strongly influences the prevalence of addiction. Poppy producing communities tend to have the highest crude prevalence rates (i.e., over 6 addicts per 100 people). Communities involved with opium transshipment generally have intermediate rates (i.e., 3 to 6per 100 people). End use or consuming locales have the lowest rates (i.e., under 3 per 100 people). These differences are attributed to varying drug availability in these three locations (i.e., inside most homes, passing through the community, or on demand only). Ethnicity, religion and national origin are not associated with addiction rate. It appears that community survey provides the most reliable data, while case registers may often underestimate the number of cases.