Around 40,000 addicts quit heroin voluntarily - NDDCB

Nearly 40,000 drug addicts voluntarily quit their habit of using heroin every year, National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB) Chairman Shakya Nanayakkara said.

Annually 90, 000 to 120, 000 drug addicts are reported in the country and of them, around 40,000 voluntarily quit it without any treatment, he said adding that all of them are below 40.

He said a total of 1, 376 individuals have left the rehabilitation centers for drug addicts after completing their term between January 1 to October 31 this year.

Ninety-three per cent of them were addicted to heroin and the rest were addicted to the Methamphetamine (Ice) drug, he said.