About 8.2 million people in Bangladesh use one or more illicit drugs or nearly 5 percent of the population, a survey by Bangladesh Medical University found.
Most users start young: 33% first used drugs between ages 8 and 17, and 59% between 18 and 25, researchers said. An average user spends up to 6,000 taka a month.
Cannabis was the most widely used substance with about 6.1 million users, followed by yaba, a methamphetamine, at 2.29 million, and alcohol at 2.02 million. About 39,000 people inject drugs, raising risk of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis.
Bangladesh Medical University and Research and Management Consultants Limited collected data in 13 districts and 26 upazilas.
“In reality, we and our children are all at risk,” vice-chancellor Prof Shahinul Alam said.