AFGHANS SEEK RELIEF IN DRUGS

The first ever assessment of drugs usage in the Afghan capital Kabul
has shown that heroin, opium, alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs are
being used by thousands of people across the city.

The assessment, made by the United Nations, also shows that many
returning refugees and women are among the drug users.

The findings were based on interviews with 200 drug users and with 100
specialists, such as doctors, health workers and police.

The final report concludes there are at least 24,000 hashish users,
nearly 11,000 opium users and 7,000 heroin users in the Afghan
capital, as well as nearly 7,000 who drink alcohol.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime emphasises that these are minimum
estimates and that actual numbers of drug users are bound to be much
higher.

Drugs capital

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium and its
derivative, heroin.

Most is smuggled illegally to the West and to neighbouring Pakistan
and Iran. But consumption of hard drugs in Afghanistan itself has
usually not been considered a widespread problem.

These figures, while not high on a per capita basis, show there has
been a steady growth in drug use here over the past decade.

An old Taleban notice warns against leisurely use of
narcotics

Opium is a traditional medicine in Afghanistan and hashish smoking has
always been common, though frowned on.

The use of heroin and pharmaceutical drugs is a more recent
problem.

Nearly one-third of the opium users interviewed were women, as were
more than a third of those who abused pharmaceuticals such as valium.

Nearly half of the heroin users had begun their habit as refugees in
Pakistan or Iran, both countries with a major problem of heroin addiction.

The authors of the report say drug use has been growing in Kabul
because of the easy availability as the illegal narcotics trade has
grown.

In addition, the war, poverty and unemployment have meant that many
people suffer from anxiety and emotional and health problems and turn
to drugs as an escape.