Afghanistan, Kabul, 9 October / corr Trend A.Hakimi / Between 20,000 and 30,000 people in Nimroz province are now addicted to drugs, a senior health official says.
The vast majority of addicts are former refugees who have returned from Iran, where they became addicted, the head of the rehabilitation hospital in the south-western province, Dr Khan Aqa Bidar, said.
He said the hospital could handle a maximum of 724 drug addicts and that the number of addicts was increasing daily.
About 16% of patients treated for drug abuse relapse because of the presence of drinking, smoking and drugs bars near the hospital, Dr Bidar said.
He accused senior officials of having close ties to the owners of the bars.
The lack of facilities, medicine and proper beds prevent many addicts from returning to the hospital to continue their treatment, he said.
An increase in drug smuggling, poverty and unemployment are among the main reasons behind the increase in the number of drug addicts in the province, the doctor said.