The number of drug-related cases has been increasing in the region for the past few years, peaking at about 9,000 in 2009, Al-Madinah daily reported on Tuesday. There has been an annual increase of 1,000 people involved in drug-related cases in the region, according to Dr. Ashraf Shilbi of King Saud University in Riyadh, who carried out the study for the university’s National Center for Youth Research.

Riyadh had the second highest number of cases, followed by Jazan, the Eastern Province, Asir, Madinah, Tabuk, Al-Qassim and Al-Jouf.

Students and young men aged between 20 to 30 were seen as most vulnerable to drug abuse, while unemployment among young people also exacerbated the problem. Bachelors were also more vulnerable to drug abuse than those who were married.

Those dealing in drugs tended to be either students or workers, the study said. The amount of drugs seized also increased by almost 18 percent annually. Hashish accounted for the largest proportion of drugs seized. Other drugs popular with dealers include Captagon pills, heroin and amphetamine.

Qat accounted for the most drug seizures in the southern Jazan region, with more than 10,000 reported cases last year.

There were very few drugs seizures involving opium and cocaine, and only in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. Shilbi pointed out that there had been a tremendous increase in the number of drug addicts receiving treatment at various Al-Amal hospitals last year, compared to previous years.

The number of drug addicts treated in the Jeddah branch rose from 10,876 in 2000 to 35,857 in 2009, whereas in Riyadh the number jumped from 13,520 to 40,515 over the same period. However, there was not such a marked increase in the number of drug addicts admitted in Dammam. A total of 2,932 addicts underwent treatment at the hospital in 2009, compared to 1,263 in 2000.

The number of drug addicts admitted  at Al-Amal hospital in Qassim rose from 365 to 709, also over the same period.

Shilbi noted that that there had been a steady fall in the number of those arrested in drug cases in the provinces of Al-Jouf and Jazan in recent years.

Drug abuse accounted for the highest proportion of drugs-related cases, while trafficking and smuggling were also on the rise.

However, illegal sales of drugs recorded a considerable decrease, falling by 800 annually. Catptagon pills were the most popular illegal narcotics in the Kingdom, followed by hashish, Qat, heroin, amphetamine, opium and cocaine.

According to the study, the majority of those involved in drug smuggling in the Kingdom were Saudis. About 22 percent of those involved in these crimes were foreigners.