More than 3.5 million Afghans are using drugs: officials

Afghan minister of public health, Firuzuddin Firuz said on Thursday more than 3.5 million people in Afghanistan are using drugs, and that nearly 1.5 million of whom are fully addicted.

He said of the number mentioned above, 1.4 million people are fully addicted and 1.6 million other people are either using drugs on a leisurely base or are living or working in areas where drugs are being used.

The minister listed unemployment, poverty and unawareness as some main reasons for the rise in the number of drug addicts in Afghanistan.

In the meantime, the Afghan and international officials say the number of drug addicts in Afghanistan was up to only 920,000 people, but it reached to one million ones by 2009, and finally in 2012, there were 1.6 million people.

Mr. Firuz asked for international cooperation to fight with the menace and said there are 25 thousands hospital beds throughout Afghanistan which are not enough for treatment of all the drug addicts in the country.

“Considering each bed can house an addict at least 35 to 40 days to be treated, the available beds in hospitals throughout the country can then only treat 60 to 70 thousands addicts each year.” Minister of public health said.