Resource scarcity hampers rehabilitation of drug addicts

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): At least 120,000 drug addicts exist in southern Kandahar province, where the 100-bed rehabilitation facility is struggling with an increasing shortage of resources.

Sardar Wali Zeeshan, head of the addiction control branch at the Public Health Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the 100-bed rehabilitation centre had inadequate facilities for the hospitalisation of addicts.

He said the centre had been short of medicines over the past six months in the wake of supporting organisations’ departure from Afghanistan.

“In the past 10 years, around 60,000 addicts were treated and helped to return to normal life. But currently, the activity of the centre has declined and it offers only counselling to addicts,” he explained.

Zeeshan said the Public Health Department was looking for donations to the hospital; otherwise, the Ministry of Public Health would provide it with financial support.

According to him, 12,000 addicts are being held in the main provincial prison and some other private health centres.

Abdul Wasi, a resident of Kandahar, said the absence of a proper place for 12,000 drug addicts was a worrisome issue for the people.

In addition to men, a large number of women in Kandahar and elsewhere are also addicted to drugs. However, no one knows about their plight.

Noor Bibi, who has been consuming drugs for the past eight years, said her husband had gone to Iran, where he became addicted to narcotics. Following his return home, she also started taking drugs.

She told Pajhwok: “I have eight children; my husband forced me into drug addiction. I’m no longer taking drugs because I cannot find heroin after the Taliban’s takeover.”

With her husband currently imprisoned, the woman says, she quit drugs three months ago.

sa/mud