Parwan population of drug addicts on the rise

CHARIKAR (Pajhwok): Easy access to drugs has been a main reason behind a rise in the number of addicts in central Parwan province, resident complained on Tuesday.

Based on official figures, at least 10,000 individuals are addicted to narcotics in the province and the number is rising at an alarming rate.

Some addicts at the Parwan Rehabilitation Centre alleged medical treatment had been futile for some of them because drugs were easily available everywhere.

Abdul Wahid, 34, seeking rehabilitation at the centre, told Pajhwok Afghan News he had been using heroin for the last eight years. He was previously a shopkeeper having lost everything to buy drugs.

“I sold everything including my mother’s jewellery. I lied about everything to everybody and when my mother came to know about it, she fell sick for a long time,” he added.

It is the fifth time he has been admitted to hospital, but rehabilitation efforts have had no impact on him because once out, he would easily find drugs again. “Just with one call, they will bring you anything on a motorbike.”

Eid Mohammad, 28, slipped into addiction in Iran. Back home in Bagram district, drugs are easily available to him. “Maybe anything you do in this world is good, except using drugs. It ruins your life.”

Shakir, a Charikar resident, claimed drugs were sold openly in places like the old city, Nawda, Tutumdara and Tajikan. He lambasted the government for not paying adequate attention to the issue.

“If the government were doing its job properly, we wouldn’t have had so many addicts in our province,” Shakir argued.

Niamatullah Rashid, head of the hospital, said 430 addicts had been rehabilitated in Parwan over the last three years, but 300 of them returned to drug abuse.

Out of 10,000 addicts in the province 300 are women and 500 children. The figures saw a dramatic rise in the last three years, he said.

hg/mud

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