UNODC facilitates Indonesia visit to boost Afghanistan’s drug treatment efforts

KABUL — The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Afghanistan Country Office facilitated an exposure visit for Afghan nationals to Jakarta, Indonesia, from February 9 to 12, 2026.

According to a UNODC statement, the visit was organized under the UN-convened Doha Process Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG), in collaboration with UN partners and support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The delegation included Afghan professionals and practitioners involved in drug demand reduction, as well as representatives from UNODC, UNDP, WHO, JICA Afghanistan, and Indonesian counterparts. The aim was to strengthen technical dialogue and cooperation on evidence-based drug use prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration services for Afghans affected by drug use disorders, particularly women and men, to build more resilient communities.

The Doha Process CNWG serves as a platform for technical dialogue supporting engagement for the Afghan people in line with global standards, emphasizing a health-focused, humane approach to treatment that upholds individual rights and dignity.

A JICA representative stated: “We are pleased to realize this visit, which aligns with the Doha Process Counternarcotics Working Group and the Joint Engagement Plan for drug use prevention and treatment. Counternarcotics remains one of the immediate and fundamental needs in Afghanistan. We are confident that this visit marks an important step forward, contributing meaningfully to collective efforts to address this critical issue. JICA extends its appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for hosting the visit and to UNODC for its coordination. We sincerely hope that the knowledge gained through this visit will benefit the people of Afghanistan.”

UNODC Country Representative for Afghanistan Polleak Ok Serei said strengthening Afghanistan’s drug treatment system through evidence-based and rights-respecting approaches is essential to protecting lives and fostering resilient communities.

Afghanistan faces significant public health and social challenges from drug use disorders. The last national prevalence survey in 2015 showed around 11 percent of the population tested positive for at least one drug. UNODC’s Afghanistan Drug Use Assessment 2025 indicates a shifting landscape with rising synthetic drugs, pharmaceutical misuse, high economic costs often exceeding a day’s wage, service gaps, and gender disparities in treatment access — 29 percent for women versus 53 percent for men.