News / Health & Wellness
Opium In Afghanistan
It’s a drug as old as the hills, and for many in Afghanistan, addiction is a family affair.
In the U.S., drugs are usually taken recreationally, used to pass the time, enhance social activities or check out of reality for a while. Then, after a prolonged period, it turns into addiction. For many people in Afghanistan, drugs are a way of life.
A recent report from CNN.com spotlighted the problem of opium addiction in the war-torn country, and the facts were staggering. Parents feed chunks of pure opium to their children to help them sleep and keep them calm so the adults can work. It also quiets the hunger that is often a constant companion in a region where there never seems to be enough food.
These poor families aren’t educated and aren’t aware of the risks of this dangerous drug. In fact, they pass out opium to the children when they’re sick, using it as a medicine in a place where regular medical care is nonexistent and medicine is too costly. As a result, the cycle of addiction passes through the generations. In fact, babies are often born addicted to parents who use opium regularly to ease the pain of long hours doing backbreaking work. The region is known for its carpets, but it’s also earning a reputation for a cycle of addiction passed on through generations. Often, entire extended families are addicted. In this area, it’s just a way of life.
Drug Treatment in Afghanistan
The problem isn’t anything new, either. For years locals have been turning to opium to quiet a baby’s cough, to help get through the day, to ease aches and pains both physical and emotional. And there are treatment options, but the closest government-run drug rehabilitation center has only 20 beds and a handful of staff to deal with the epidemic – and it requires a four-hour drive to reach it.
Opium Addiction
Experts estimate that opium addiction afflicts more than one million Afghans. While addiction is a struggle in any country, here in the U.S. help is just around the corner. If you or someone you love is battling an opium addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
