Taliban Members Travel to Indonesia for Addiction Treatment Training

A group of Taliban members traveled to Indonesia, coordinated with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), for training on addiction prevention and treatment. The trip aims to strengthen Afghanistan's addiction treatment system and improve access to standard, humane services for women and men with substance use disorders.

UNODC stated that Afghan specialists discussed scientific methods for substance prevention, health-centered treatment, rehabilitation, and patient reintegration with Indonesian experts. The program took place in Jakarta under the UNODC representation in the framework of the Doha process, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA's representative emphasized the importance of drug control in Afghanistan, saying: "The realization of this visit is an important step towards addressing one of Afghanistan's urgent needs and can help strengthen joint efforts to improve prevention and treatment services."

The UNODC representative in Afghanistan stressed that evidence-based approaches respecting human dignity are essential for protecting lives and building resilient communities.

Afghanistan faces significant public health and social challenges from substance use disorders. A 2015 national estimate indicated about 11 percent of Afghans used at least one narcotic. A 2025 UNODC assessment showed rising use of synthetic drugs and misused medications amid changing patterns.

UNODC surveys highlight high economic costs, service gaps, and gender disparities in treatment access, with only 29 percent of women compared to 53 percent of men receiving services, underscoring women's broader deprivation from support.