More than 20 000 Bulgarians were addicted to heroin, head of information and research department of the National Centre for Addictions Momchil Vassilev said.

More than 200 000 people have tried some type of narcotic substance, Novinar newspaper reported.

Co-ordinator of the national HIV/AIDS prevention campaign Tonka Vurleva said that 48 intravenous drug addicts were infected with HIV since 1986. Since the beginning of the year 16 addicts became HIV-positive, Vurleva said.

At the same time Bulgaria has only three addiction treatment centres. Nearly 950 people are undergoing treatment.

The national parents’ anti-drugs association organised yesterday the signing of a petition for changes in current regulations affecting drug addicts.

Their initiative was carried out during the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking, June 26.

The petition, to be presented to members of the National Assembly, requests permanent measures to stop the distribution of narcotic substances. It also calls for facilitated access of addicts to treatment centres.