Dozens of drug addicts shifted to Kabul for treatment

JALALAABAD (Pajhwok): Police have collected dozens of drug addicts from the streets of Jalalabad city, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, and have transferred them to capital Kabul for treatment.

According to officials, the addicts will remain hospitalized at the Kabul Addiction Treatment Center for six months.

Sayed Tayyeb Hammad, spokesman for the Nangarhar provincial police headquarters, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the counter-narcotics department had collected 65 drug addicts from different areas of Jalalabad city and sent them to Kabul for treatment.

He added that the drug addicts will undergo a six-month treatment course in Kabul before reuniting with their families.

On the other hand, residents of Jalalabad city welcomed the move, saying it will reduce the population of drug addicts in the city.

A shopkeeper in Zargaran Street area said that the number of drug addicts in Jalalabad city had increased and they were often involved in robbing shops.

He said if drug addicts were arrested and treated, it would help reduce crimes.

A 170-bed hospital for drug addicts in Nangarhar lacks the capacity to treat the large number of addicts.

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