Waheed Akrami 

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Afghanistan is well-known as the biggest producer of opium (90 %) in the world, there has been falls and raises in the amount of opium cultivated in this country but the problem still seriously persist to continue, the total area under poppy cultivation is estimated 201,000 hectares in 2016, as estimated 10 % increase from 2015. Narcotics is one of the unresolved issues of current world, which is responsible for hundreds of thousands of lives annually around the world, Despite the creation of several international conventions on prevention and trafiiicking of drugs, they are still available in many parts of the world. METHODS: A Cross sectional study is conducted to find out negative impacts of Drug use on individuals, their families and whole community. PURPOSIVE SAMPLING technique is used. Quantitative Data Analysis is done using 300 samples through structured questionnaire from drug users in Kabul, Balkh, Hirat provinces. Qualitative Data is collected by individual interviews, Focus Group Discussions ( 8-10 Participants). Samples are analysed individually and psychological, economic, other factors involved in the study are studied in methodological manner. RESULTS: Findings show that 27% of drug users are of very young age (15-25 years), 35% are of age group( 26-35 years), 26% are in age group ( 36-45 years) and only 12% are older drug addicts. Majority of workforce and independent age group are Drug users which contribute to social burden and increase the dependent age group percentage. 80% of Drug users are illeterate and 19% have attended schools. Education level of female Drug users is low as compared to male Drug addicts. 60% of Drug users live with their spouses, 28% live with parents, 5.6% live alone. Around 54% of drug addicts are multi drug users. CONCLUSION: As the poppy cultivation will persist to be higher in Afghanistan and the ever continuing conflicts and poverty beside other factors created a situation full of misery and hopelessness, drug users’ prevalence and incident will be high and getting higher. It can exacerbate the poverty level and social disorder which in turn can affect the country economic and social order adversely and will encourage the illicit economy, increase crime and bring more cultural and social adversities to large extent. In this complex situation, this study has put light on the scale of social and economical impacts of drug use and had assist the authorities to have better understanding of the situation in order to put corrective and effective measures to rectify/contain and mitigate the extra burden this phenomenon will add to Afghanistan multi-crises