Herat: 4,000 drug addicts rounded up in 2 weeks

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Around 4,000 drug addicts, who have been rounded up in the past 15 days in western Herat province, remain under treatment at rehabilitation centres, local sources say.

Counter-Narcotics Director Maulvi Hayatullah Rohani, speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, confirmed over 4,000 addicts had been admitted to 22 rehab centres across the province.

Rohani said women and children were among the addicts rounded up and hospitalised. However, he did not provide specific figures.

The process had led to a sharp decline in the number of fatalities among addicts due to cold. Since the beginning of winter, 45 addicts had lost their lives to cold so far, he revealed.

Rohani explained work was ongoing a draft law for the employment of addicts after their rehabilitation to prevent them from relapse.

Talks had already been held with officials of industrial parks and other private institutions on the employment of rehabilitated individuals, he added.

Ziauddin Maldar, head of private rehab centres, hoped they would be able to control addiction and prevent its spread if the provincial government and people supported them.

One of the key western provinces bordering Iran, Herat is the second largest province behind Kabul in terms of drug addicts.

Figures to figures from counter-narcotics officials, there are currently about 70,000 addicts in Herat.

aw/mud