KABUL - Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyres and Disabled (MoLSAMD) on Sunday said that it has employed 180 recovered drug addicts after they successfully completed a two-year treatment program at Omid drug rehabilitation center in Kabul.
MoLSAMD officials said they would hire more recovered addicts in future.
“After the establishment of this center, so far 600 addicts have been treated, 150 of them were given vocational training,” said Nasrin Oryakhail, acting minister of MoLSAMD.
Drug production and smuggling in Afghanistan has destroyed the lives of thousands of people in the country – especially among the younger generation.
However government and its foreign partners have constantly pledged to fight the trend. But the problem continues despite government’s counter-narcotics drive.
Laal Jan, 44, from Baghlan province, said he first started taking drugs in Pakistan ten years ago. Laal Jan underwent a two-year treatment program at Omid drug rehabilitation center where he was taught a skill.
“I started using drugs in Pakistan, now I regert my action, my children said they would not go to school unless I stop taking drugs, then I was forced to give them up,” said recovered addict Laal Jan.
Mir Hassan is another recovered addict who is from Bamiyan province.
Meanwhile, Salamat Azimi, Minister of Counter Narcotics said government was committed to its counter-narcotics campaign.
In addition, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has said that drug smuggling and production are posing serious harm to the security and stability of the country.
“We are committed to combating drug smuggling, supply and production, this would help decrease the number of addicts and to eliminate the trend in the country,” said minister of counter narcotics Salamat Azimi.
“Drug addicts have easy access to drugs in Kabul and the provinces, they are supplied drugs easily, this is a reason for the rise of the trend,” said recovered addict Mir Hassan.
Currently thousands of Afghan youths are coping with the hazards of addiction and living under bridges in Kabul. (Tolonews)