KABUL, Afghanistan — The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has sounded the alarm over a rising trend in synthetic drug use in Afghanistan, warning that it could worsen the country’s already fragile public health situation.
A new report by the UNODC, conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlights significant gaps in Afghanistan’s ability to treat substance use disorders, with systemic barriers limiting access to care, particularly for women.
The survey, titled Mapping of Facilities for Treatment of Substance Use Disorders in Afghanistan, is the first comprehensive assessment of the nation’s treatment infrastructure.
It found that while 82 treatment centers operate across 32 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, only 17 percent cater exclusively to women. Services for female patients are available in just over one-third of provinces, leaving many women without adequate care.
Compounding the crisis, the report points to severe shortages of medical personnel, essential supplies, and infrastructure funding. Over 72 percent of treatment facilities operate at or near full capacity, but many lack critical resources, including naloxone, a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses.
Community-based care options, which are less resource-intensive and more accessible than residential treatment, remain underdeveloped, leaving rural populations particularly underserved.
Shifting drug trends
While opium and heroin remain the most commonly used substances in Afghanistan, the report highlights a troubling surge in synthetic drug use, particularly methamphetamine. Methamphetamine-related admissions are increasing rapidly, placing additional strain on an already overburdened treatment system.
The rise in synthetic drugs comes amid a 30 percent increase in opium production in Afghanistan compared with 2023. The UN has said that opium production has remained 93 percent below 2022 levels, when a nationwide drug ban was implemented by the Taliban.
The UNODC warns that without targeted interventions, the proliferation of synthetic drugs could exacerbate Afghanistan’s public health crisis.
Ghada Waly, the Executive Director of UNODC, emphasized the need for coordinated international efforts to address the growing crisis.
“International efforts must be coordinated to ensure that this decline is not replaced with production of dangerous synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine within Afghanistan or the wider region,” Waly said.
The report urges investment in infrastructure, medical supplies, and workforce training to improve the quality and accessibility of treatment services. Expanding gender-sensitive care and developing community-based treatment options are also identified as key priorities.
