Thousands of Drug Addicts Rehabilitated in Herat, Afghanistan in a Three-Year Span
In Afghanistan's Herat province, a significant stride is being made in the rehabilitation and reintegration of drug addicts. Recently, 400 former drug users completed a three-month medical treatment and rehabilitation program, successfully reuniting with their families [1][3]. This is part of a larger effort over the past three years, where over 30,000 drug addicts have been treated and returned to normal life [4].
The rehabilitation process in Herat is unique, combining medical treatment with religious and ideological elements. At a 4,000-bed rehabilitation camp in Herat city, patients are not only receiving medical care but also Quranic instruction as part of their spiritual rehabilitation [2]. This approach is reflected in the rehabilitation center's focus on teaching correct recitation and memorization of the Quran as part of the recovery process.
The patients at the center have been addicted to various forms of substance abuse, with many becoming addicted while in Iran. Currently, around 4,000 patients are receiving care at the facility, with approximately 700 being treated each month [2]. The treatment for these addicts has been ongoing for months, and Afghan police collect these individuals upon their return before admitting them for treatment [1].
The rehabilitation center in Herat city is not the only one making a difference. In the same week, 516 individuals from Herat and neighboring Nimroz province also completed rehabilitation and reintegration [3]. Furthermore, Afghan police have recently detained additional drug users across various provinces, transferring them to rehabilitation centers for medical care and support as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug addiction [1].
One of the patients under treatment, Qudratullah, urged youths to avoid narcotics, sharing his experience of how addiction had devastated his life and isolated him from society and loved ones [1]. Homayoun Mohammadi, a psychiatrist at the Herat addiction treatment hospital, emphasized that drug addiction often leads to mental disorders like depression and anxiety [1].
Hayatullah Rouhani, Director of Counter-Narcotics at the Herat Police Command, highlighted the importance of these efforts, stating that the treatment of drug addicts in Herat is a significant step towards a drug-free society [1]. As the rehabilitation and reintegration process continues, it is hoped that more individuals will find the support they need to overcome addiction and return to their families and communities.
- The rehabilitation center in Herat city incorporates science, such as medical treatment, with health-and-wellness practices like Quranic instruction, creating a unique approach towards mental health and therapies-and-treatments for drug addicts.
- The success of the three-month rehabilitation program in Herat's province has contributed to a significant reduction in the number of drug addicts, with over 30,000 individuals returning to normal life over the past three years, thus improving the overall health of the community.
- In light of Homayoun Mohammadi's observations, mental health should be addressed as an integral part of drug addiction rehabilitation, as it often leads to mental disorders like depression and anxiety, affecting not only the physical health but also the emotional well-being of the addicts.
