Cannabis, Opium Still Dominate Drug Use Among Afghan Men, Says UN
Cannabis and opium remain the most widely used drugs among men in Afghanistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its latest assessment.
Cannabis and opium remain the most widely used drugs among men in Afghanistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its latest assessment.
According to the report, cannabis accounts for 46 percent of drug use among Afghan men, followed by opium at 19 percent, K-tablets at 11 percent and methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, at 7 percent.
In the report published Sunday, UNODC said patterns of drug use in Afghanistan continue to be dominated by traditional narcotics, while the use of synthetic drugs and the misuse of opioid medicines are also increasing.
The findings form the third and final volume of the National Drug Use Survey in Afghanistan, prepared by UNODC with support from the United Nations Development Programme.
The report said that for many users, the cost of obtaining drugs exceeds their daily income.
The assessment comes as the Taliban have repeatedly claimed they have eliminated drug cultivation, production and trafficking in Afghanistan and reduced them to near zero. The United Nations has previously confirmed a decline in drug cultivation but said the use of synthetic drugs has increased by about 50 percent.
In April 2022, the Taliban announced a ban on the cultivation, purchase and sale of poppy under a decree attributed to their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
UN Flags Gaps in Treatment Services
While Taliban authorities regularly report on efforts to treat people with drug addiction, the United Nations says serious gaps remain in the availability, access, quality and gender coverage of treatment services.
UNODC said nearly two-thirds of treatment centres in Afghanistan provide services only to men. Just 17.1 percent of centres are dedicated to women, and in the 32 provinces surveyed, only slightly more than one-third offer services for women.
The United Nations has previously estimated there are about 4 million drug users in Afghanistan, including women, who make up around 35 percent of users.
The report also pointed to shortages of trained specialists and infrastructure for treating people with drug addiction.
The Taliban periodically publish figures saying addicts have been discharged from treatment centres after recovery.
The UN report said many people struggling with addiction link continued drug use to poverty, unemployment and severe economic pressure.
The Taliban have banned drug cultivation and trafficking and have rounded up people with addiction. Reports indicate that many resume drug use after leaving treatment centres.
According to reports, some people have been forced into treatment without consent or psychological counselling, with allegations of harsh conditions, food deprivation and a lack of specialised services. Taliban officials have not yet commented on the latest UN findings.
