One Million Drug Addicts, Including Women and Children in Afghanistan

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations Office of the Deputy Mission in Afghanistan, revealed in an interview with the United Nations news department that an estimated 5 to 8 million Afghans are grappling with drug addiction.

The United Nations Special Representative in Afghanistan emphasized that among these individuals, one million are women and children. He highlighted that poverty and limited access to treatment methods serve as the primary drivers of drug addiction within the Afghan population.

Furthermore, he explained that a significant portion of these addicts are female carpet weavers who turn to drugs to cope with sleep deprivation and escape the monotonous and strenuous nature of their work.

In addition, men frequently resort to opium as a stimulant to endure long working days, gradually falling into the grip of drug addiction.