As the number of drugs addicts is increasing in Kabul, there are some efforts by the Counter-Narcotics Department of Ministry of Interior to curb the drug dealing in the capital. There are thousands of drug addicts in the city and hundreds of drug dealers and most of them carry on their activities on the streets without any fear. Particularly, Pul-e-Sokhtha area in PD 6 depicts a pathetic condition of the drug addicts. Hundreds of them live under the bridge and their number seems to be increasing with each passing day. Now, there are some families as well among them, who can be seen with their children. However, tangible measures are yet to be visible.
It has to be seen what would be the fortune of the current efforts of the Counter-Narcotics Department. According to a statement by the Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics, Baz Mohammad Ahmadi, the authorities are serious this time and they have increased their focus on the issue. The officials of the Department have also mentioned that they have arrested over 900 drug dealers in Kabul over the past three months. Nonetheless, hundreds of drug addicts and dealers can easily be seen nowadays around Pul-e-Sokhtha area. First they were under the bridge, now they have been displaced from there and they have moved to the footpaths of the Kote Sangi flyover.
Displacing them alone would not solve the issue; it is really vital that they should be properly treated and the drug dealing should be controlled with iron fists. Currently Deputy Minister of Public Health, Najia Tariq claimed, “We have treated at least 6,000 drug addicts, which will be rounded up in Pul-e-Sokhta area in 25 phases.” Nevertheless, the results are yet to be seen. In fact, the measures that they carry out are not practical and effective.
The preventive measures to stop the use of drugs should be two-fold. First, the measures must be carried out to discourage its spread and use; means the objective should be to stop producing new addicts. Strict legal measures must be carried out to discourage the smuggling of drugs and its business. The convenient availability of different types of drugs makes many addicts each year. Even the most harmful of the drugs are available with greatest of the ease. On the other hand, there are people who are so unfortunate and incognizant of the negative use of them that they use them as medicine. With such a scenario at hand, it is really a Herculean task to stop the people becoming addict. In fact, the drug smuggling and its availability in every corner of the country is linked with the organized crime in the entire region and even international mafia. Most of the funding for the organized crime in the country is obtained from the filthy business of drugs. Unfortunately, the law and order system is not strong enough to take serious action against them. More unfortunate is the fact that there are culprits from within the government authorities who are involved in invigorating this grimy business. All these factors must be taken care of by the government authorities and relevant agencies and a comprehensive movement should be launched to counter this menace.
The second phase of the preventive campaign should involve the treatment of the addicts and availability of pleasant environment to them so that they should avoid using drugs and return to positive living. In this regard the establishment of the medical and rehabilitation centers can play a key role. Well-developed and properly managed hospitals and rehabilitation centers for the addicts can really bring back the addicts from the alleys of the darkness to the horizons of the illumination. It is hapless to mention that the number of such centers is insufficient in our country. There are only few such centers in the urban areas while most of the people, who are addicted to drugs, do not have access to such opportunities. It should also be mentioned that the ones that are present are not equipped with latest technology, medicine and techniques and on most of the occasions they depend on violence as their only tool to cure the patients. The patients after such treatment, instead of becoming a positive member of society, are further pushed towards addiction and crimes. Their confidence on the social setup and their expectations from their fellow beings are all shattered and they find refuge in the cozy arms of drugs, where they are not haunted by troubles, worries and pains.
The suggested measures can really play a role in discouraging the use of drugs; nevertheless, they are short-term. For a considerable reduction in the use of this menace, it is vital that better living conditions must be provided to the people as most of the people become addicted because of their poor socio-economic circumstance. In addition, the production and smuggling of the drugs should be banned as much as possible through a trust-worthy and strong law and order system. No compromise should be tolerated in this regard. Even the most powerful should be brought to justice and the mechanism of law and order must not be hijacked the terrorist networks and criminal syndicates. Moreover, awareness campaigns must be launched in different parts of country that can spread awareness about the ferocity of this hazard and that has the capacity to generate intense hatred against it and inculcate within the minds of our people the dignity of life and its importance.