The number of younger teenagers that turn to the KETHEA Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals is dropping while those that come from regional parts of the country, such as Thessaly and Thrace, for assistance is on the rise, the group said yesterday.

KETHEA presented a study of the characteristics shown by the 12,938 drug users who came to it for help from the year 2000 to 2006.

The numbers of adolescents seeking assistance has fallen from 20.4 percent of total drug users in 2000 to 9.7 percent in 2006.

For every four men who required therapy, there was one woman, according to the statistics.

The average age of users rose to 26.8 in 2006 from 24.4 in 2000.

Addicts who seek assistance are mostly users of heroin but cocaine addictions are also increasing, KETHEA added.