45 drug addicts die in ongoing winter in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): At least 45 drug addicts have died of extreme cold in western Herat province during the past two months, an official said on Tuesday.

Maulvi Hayatullah Rohani, head of counter narcotics department of Herat, told media outlets that 45 addicts had died as a result their exposure to freezing cold in the last two months in the province.

According to Rohani, the process of collecting addicts is underway in the capital and districts of the province with support of the police headquarters, the municipality, the provincial administration, local representatives and the public.

After rounding them up, some measures including heating system to keep the addicts warm in winter season and their treatment are also considered.

Ghulam Hussain, a drug addict in one of the treatment centers, told Pajhwok Afghan News he was happy that the government protected him and other addicts from extreme cold wave and provided them with treatment opportunity.

He wished to return to his family as a healthy person, urging the government to provide him assistance and treatment chance.

On Monday, the Interior Ministry announced collecting over 10,000 drug addicts so far nationwide to treat and protect them from cold weather and the process was ongoing.

ja/ma

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