Revisiting 'The Hidden Epidemic': A Situation Assessment of Drug Use in Asia in the Context of HIV

Since 1997 Cambodia has increased its role as a major drug transmitting and trafficking country with recent reports of clandestine amphetamine laboratories being established on the Thai border. More drugs are being used by wider groups of people with an increase in the use of amphetamines and inhalants. We still have no estimates of the numbers of drug users in Cambodia and it is not considered a problem of great significance. However a public education campaign about the dangers and consequences of drug use was launched by the government in 2000. A few NGOs have begun to give attention to drug use as part of their work with street children, commercial sex workers, fishermen, prisoners and migrant workers.