The Taliban cleared the parks and bridges of Kabul – but behind the barred windows of rehab centers, another battle rages on
“You forgot to photograph this,” says a young man in a green patient gown as he proudly points to his neck decorated with three five-point stars. He has a knife tattooed on the back of his hand and the letters PJR on his fingers – for his home province of Panjshir. All the tattoos were done in prison, where he ended up after a street fight. But this conversation we are having at the Jangalak drug treatment center in the south of Kabul.
In a room with barred windows, there are five recovering addicts. They represent a statistical sample of what is found in UN reports on drug use in Afghanistan. Two of them started to use when they were about 15 years old. Two were arrested for low-level crimes. The oldest one is 35, the youngest 19. The longest period of addiction is 17 years; the shortest, just three.
Ask them how it began and you will hear stories of unemployment and depression, broken romances and wrong crowds, lack of education, uncertain futures, and uneventful village life. Ask them what kind of drugs they were taking, and they will name hashish, crystal meth, heroin, opium, cocaine, pregabalin and tablet k,
tablet k, which is a combination of two medications used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. These drugs are often used illicitly, leading to severe health consequences. The article highlights how the use of these substances is becoming more prevalent due to the lack of economic opportunities and the instability brought about by the Taliban’s rule.
The hospital’s efforts to treat these patients have been met with numerous challenges. The lack of medical supplies, including gloves and sanitizers, has created a hostile environment for both patients and staff. Additionally, there is a shortage of trained personnel, making it difficult to provide comprehensive care. Despite these obstacles, the hospital has attempted to create a positive atmosphere by planting late summer flowers in the yard, symbolizing hope in the midst of despair.
The article also touches on the role of religious leaders in the fight against drug addiction. Mullahs are being involved in the rehabilitation process, emphasizing that drug use is against Islamic values. This approach aims to utilize the influence of religious figures to encourage individuals to seek treatment and to reintegrate into society.
However, the challenges of addiction are not just medical. The article points out that unemployment and financial insecurity are major factors contributing to relapses. Many patients, after completing their treatment, struggle to find stable employment, leading to a cycle of dependency and despair. The hospital and other healthcare institutions are working to provide support, but the systemic issues of poverty and lack of education must be addressed to achieve long-term success in combating addiction in Afghanistan.