KABUL: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported that traditional drugs continue to be the most consumed substances in Afghanistan, although the use of synthetic drugs and the abuse of opioid medications are on the rise. According to the report, among Afghan men: Cannabis (hashish) 46%, Opium 19%, Tablets (presumably opioids)11%, Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) 7%, are used. The report indicates that the cost of drug consumption exceeds the daily financial capabilities of many people, with poverty, unemployment, and economic pressures as primary factors perpetuating use. This report is the third and final volume of the “National Survey on Drug Use in Afghanistan,” compiled with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The UN has also emphasized that healthcare services remain inadequate: nearly two-thirds of health centers cater only to men, and only 17% are specialized for women. Many addicts resume drug use after leaving treatment centers. The report highlights efforts by the Taliban to ban the cultivation, production, and trafficking of drugs, but health interventions and the collection of addicts are conducted without psychological counseling and often involve violent measures. Serious issues regarding the quality and coverage of health services persist. Previously, the UN had announced that there are about four million addicts in Afghanistan, with 35% of them being women.
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