According to Armenian Justice Ministry's Penal Department, the prisoners are disallowed from narcotics use.As the Penal Department press secretary Arsen Babayan told a news conference in Yerevan, serious activities are conducted in this direction.

The head of Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor Office, civil rights activist Artur Sakunts, in turn, noted significant increase in the rate of mortality at penal institutions. “35 deaths were reported in prisons in 2010 against 7 in 2009,” Sakunts said, citing lack of medical assistance as on of the reason behind the increase of mortality.