Government officials in the Middle East have been busy warning its citizens and ex-patriots regarding the dangers of a new drug that has origins in Asia. The drug, named "shabu," is an amphetamine-derived psycho-stimulant that can lead to violence, addiction and mental illness.

Warnings have been issued by the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC) warning that the drug incites people to behave violently and causes extensive damage to blood vessels.

Like Us on Facebook

The GDNC warns that this new drug is a chemical compound used in the Philippines and Indonesia, among other countries.

A statement issued by the GDNC was circulated throughout Saudi Arabia informing citizens and visitors alike of the consequences of having or using the drug.

"Several Asian expats have been arrested after being found to be in possession of this drug," the statement said.

The report revealed that over half of the population addicted to the drug are between the ages of 19 and 30.

Nearly half of the population in Saudi Arabia that are drug addicts are expatriates.

There are approximately 204,000 men and women across Saudi Arabia that are drug addicts with women accounting for 20 percent of the cases of addiction to shabu.

In an interview with Arab News, Dr. Younes Radawin gave some insight on how rapidly the drug spread and how it reached expatriate Asians so quickly.

"Shabu began circulating thanks to the presence of a large number of Asian expats in the country, but is still far less rampant than other types of drugs," he said. "Many erroneously think that these types of drugs merely help them stay alert at work without realizing just how addictive they are in the long run," he said.