Misuse of Pharmaceutical Drugs Rising In India: UN Official

"Yaba pills are very famous in Bangladesh and Myanmar," Albertine added.

She said once hooked on to drugs, it is very difficult to kick the habit. "India, Nepal and Bangladesh cultivate cannabis. Misuse of synthetic and pharmaceutical drugs is a big concern as they are produced by pharmaceutical companies in India and Bangladesh," Albertine said.

Talking about the sources and routes of drugs, Albertine said: "Opiate and heroin basically come from Afghanistan. Then it comes through Pakistan to India."

"You also have some influx from Myanmar into northeast (India). Then you have the synthetic drug which comes from Southeast Asia and often through Myanmar and Bangladesh."

The UNODC has no exact figure of drug addicts in India since the Indian government has not maintained such records since 2001, Albertine said.

"We don't have any national survey. India had done a survey in 2001, which was published in 2004," Albertine said.

India has over 70 million drug addicts, according to a survey conducted by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry and UNODC.

Albertine said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also not conducted drug surveys, though Nepal did so a while ago.

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