About half of over 1,000 former opium-growing villages in Laos risk going back to their old profession, because of lack of help to assist them in their efforts to get out of poverty. With limited funding, the Lao government has not been able to carry out its pledge to provide assistance to all the opium farmers.
Laos declared itself opium-free early this year. but a UNODC report says there are still over 2,500 hectares of opium fields in Laos, up from 2005's 1,600 hectares. The report also says there are still over 12,000 opium addicts in Laos.
Listen to our Laos Today for more details,