Drug addiction (opioids and others)
Drug addiction is a long-term illness in which a person cannot stop using a substance even though it harms their health, family and work. In Afghanistan the most common are opium, heroin, methamphetamine (shisha or crystal), cannabis (charas) and misuse of sleeping pills or painkillers. Addiction changes the brain, so willpower alone is often not enough. Treatment works and recovery is possible.
Symptoms
- Strong craving and loss of control over use
- Needing more of the drug to get the same effect
- Withdrawal when stopping: body pain, sweating, diarrhoea, runny nose, restlessness, poor sleep
- Neglecting family, work or responsibilities
- Money problems, lying or stealing to get drugs
- Weight loss, poor hygiene, mood changes or paranoia
Causes
- Easy access to opium, heroin and other drugs
- Using drugs to cope with pain, trauma, depression or hardship
- Starting to use them as medicine for pain, cough or sleep
- Friends or family members who use drugs
- Unemployment, displacement and poverty
- Family history of addiction
Prevention
- Never give opium or other drugs to calm a crying child or to treat pain or cough
- Talk with young people about the dangers of drugs
- Get help early for depression, trauma and chronic pain
- Use sleeping pills and strong painkillers only as prescribed
- Keep children busy with school, sport and family activities
Treatment
- Medically supervised withdrawal (detox) at a drug treatment centre or clinic
- Counselling and support groups to prevent relapse
- For opioid addiction, long-term substitution medicine may be offered by specialist services
- Treating depression, anxiety, hepatitis, HIV or TB if present
- Family support without shame or violence
- Do not try to stop using strong sleeping pills or alcohol suddenly without a doctor
Common questions
Is it safe to stop opium or heroin suddenly at home?
Opioid withdrawal is very unpleasant but rarely dangerous for a healthy adult. However, relapse after stopping is common and overdose risk is high afterwards because tolerance is lost. It is safer to stop with help from a treatment centre.
Is it safe to give opium to a baby to stop crying or to help sleep?
No. Even a small amount of opium can stop a baby's breathing and cause death. It also leads to addiction. Take a baby who cries a lot to a health worker.