Drug addicts’ population exceeds 130,000 in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): The number of drug addicts has been on the increase and has reached above 130,000 persons in southern Helmand province, the world officials say.

Public Health Director Dr. Abdul Wahid Hazam told Pajhwok Afghan News that they were concerned about the growing number of drug addicts in Helmand due to unemployment and insecurity.

The population of individuals addicted to drugs has exceeded 130,000 while there is only a 100-bed hospital for their treatment in Helmand.

“We can admit 100 addicts at one time in the hospital, while the number of such people has been growing.”

Most of drug addicts converge on a park known as ‘drugs area’ in Lashkargah City, the provincial capital. Noorahman, one of the addicts, said: “I easily receive drugs from this place.”

He said they bought drugs from drug peddlers coming to the park and sometimes addicts had to visit residences of drug sellers.

Mohammad Shah, another addict, said he had been receiving drugs from the same place over the past three years.

He said, “I was in police and when I did not get my salary for three months, my economic situation worsened, and then I started consuming drugs.”

A number of drug addicts urged the government to provide them health services.

Police spokesman Maj. Ihsanuddin Helmandi told Pajhwok that an operation would be conducted to arrest all dealers of drugs in the city in near future.

He said police had arrested a number of drug dealers during the past few months and had introduced them to judicial organs.

pk/ma

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