YEREVAN.- Armenian drug addicts seeking medical help showed a 30% increase last year as compared with the previous year.

Last year, 2,472 drug addicts were registered in Armenia against 1,717 the previous year.

Director of the Yerevan drug abuse clinic Petros Semerjyan said that the real number of drug addicts has not increased. Rather, more drug addicts are seeking medical help now.

Drug addicts are treated free of charge in Armenia. The only exception is the Ultra Rapid method, which costs AMD AMD 700,000 to 800,000 (U.S. $2,000 on average).