Drug use is associated with increased vulnerabilities in many areas of life, resulting in adverse social and health consequences, such as co-occurring mental and physical disorders (including HIV, Hepatitis and other infectious diseases), drug-related deaths, unemployment, stigmatization, crime and violence. Furthermore, decades of conflict and instability have left many Afghans vulnerable to a wide range of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – common risk factors for the initiation of drug use and the development of drug use disorders.
Over the years, UNODC Health section has supported Afghanistan in strengthening drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and harm reduction programs based on scientific evidence, human rights and gender consideration by developing:
1) Comprehensive and effective drug policy and system;
2) Coordination among stakeholders;
3) Technical tools (e.g., national guidance, clinical protocols, psychosocial protocols);
4) Capacity building of national policymakers, public health officials, health and drug treatment professionals, social care and education providers, and criminal justice and law enforcement officers.
UNODC has trained over 2,000 national policymakers, public health officials, health and social care providers, and educational professionals in Afghanistan in line with the UNODC-WHO International Standards for Drug Use Prevention and the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders at the national level and outside the country.
