MALE, Maldives, 11 March 2009 In the tropical tourists paradise of Maldives, beyond the waving palms and turquoise pools, lurks the ugly problem of youth drug addiction.Many adolescents in this isolated country of islands in the Indian Ocean, which lives off its unique, natural beauty, have turned to a life of deadly addiction that threatens society. Drug addiction touches nearly every family and is a big worry for the new government.And as injection drug use becomes more common, so too does the risk of increased incidence of HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases.Young people have to have hope. Until we are able to give them hope, this is not going to go away, said Vice President Mohammed Wahid Hasaan, a former UNICEF Representative. If this is not checked, it will have serious effects on the social fabric of the country and will undermine the economy, as well.To read the full story, visit http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/maldives_48581.html Less