Success story drug users and methadone maintenance therapy in Kabul

Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, consists of 7 million populations from original Kabuli and from different provinces and returnees from neighbor’s countries. Kabul is known as heroin transient smuggling way, consist of more than 1000,000 people countrywide who use drug and more than 20,000 injecting drug users, there is increment of drug users.

While Mĕdecines Du Monde Started a comprehensive and module Harm Reduction Program in Kabul Afghanistan (2006), for many years detoxification was the only intervention available, some authorities were opposite for the Harm Reduction Program even, much still to MMT.

As detoxification has 90% relapsed (WHO), MDM has been persisted on comprehensive Harm Reduction Program, that’s why MDM attempted to start a Pilot MMT program in Afghanistan-Kabul for people who use drug particularly for injectors to reduce Blood Born Diseases (HIV/AIDs and HCV) prevalence among them. Finally after much more attempts and struggling against Ministry of Counter Narcotic and DRC, MDM enabled to start Methadone Maintenance Therapy Practically in Kabul February 2010.

Click here to read the full article.

Keep up-to-date with drug policy developments by subscribing to the IDPC Monthly Alert.