30,000 Drug addicts rehabilitated in Herat over the past three years

KABUL (TOLONews): Local officials in Herat province say that more than 30,000 individuals addicted to narcotics have received treatment and have now returned to normal life.

These individuals, who gave up drugs after undergoing months of treatment, are now reintegrated into society. Currently, nearly 300 people who were users of various types of narcotics have quit addiction and are ready to reunite with their families.

According to figures from Herat’s local authorities, over 30,000 addicts have been treated in the province over the past three years.

Hayatullah Rouhani, Director of Counter-Narcotics at the Herat Police Command, said: “More than 30,000 addicts have been gathered and treated in Herat. In the past, addicts were treated in different places, but for the past two years, they have been receiving treatment at a 4,000-bed rehabilitation camp here.”

These individuals struggled with addiction for many years. According to them, narcotics had ruined their lives and distanced them from their families and society.

Qudratullah, a patient under treatment, said: “I’m trying not to use drugs anymore. I urge other youths to avoid narcotics and this harmful practice so their future won’t be destroyed.”

Another patient, Nisar Ahmad, stated: “In this difficult economic situation and unemployment, whatever little I earned went toward buying drugs. It wasn’t just unhelpful, it caused serious harm.”

According to doctors, most of these individuals have developed mental health problems due to drug use. Every month, more than 700 addicts receive treatment at the facility.

Homayoun Mohammadi, a psychiatrist at the Herat addiction treatment hospital, said: “When someone becomes addicted to drugs, they inevitably suffer from mental disorders like depression and anxiety. We diagnose these patients in individual sessions, and a specialist addresses their issues.”

Local authorities state that nearly 4,000 addicts are currently receiving treatment in this Herat city facility.

According to them, most of these individuals became addicted in Iran and were gathered by police upon returning to Afghanistan and placed under treatment.