Absolutely no one can screw up a country (Afghanistan) like Bush can

[ProSense]

Afghanistan struggles with heroin addiction scourge

By Hamid Shalizi Sun Oct 14, 8:24 PM ET

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan, the world's biggest heroin producer, is struggling to cope with a drug problem as thousands of Afghans -- trying to cope with the traumas of war, displacement and poverty -- are becoming addicted to narcotics.

On the outskirts of Kabul, a sprawling bombed-out building that was once a centre for culture and science is home to over 100 squatters whose main concern is feeding their heroin habit.

Ghulam Ahmad, a 17 year-old addict, has been injecting heroin for almost two years now. Like many living in the squalid, filthy building, he started using drugs in neighboring Iran.

<...>

MISERY

The rates of addiction in Afghanistan have increased sharply since 2003 to nearly 4 percent of the population, the UN says. There are now roughly 150,000 opium users, 50,000 heroin addicts and 520,000 cannabis smokers. Of those 120,000 are women and 60,000 are children.

more

Six years, $600 billion and the "surge" equals two lost wars