KHOST CITY (SW) – The youth in Khost’s Yaquboyo Aw Sabaroyo district have been running an intesnive grassroots campaign against the use of narcotics in the province.
This part of the province remains relatively insecure, but the young civil society activists are fearful about the spread of drug addiction among the residents. It is partly because of the easy availability of the cannabis, heroin and other addictive substances here.
Syed Ameen and Mohammad Anwar, two resident of the district, said in regard to the campaign that the local administration seems unable or unwilling to counter the sale and consumption of narcotics. They said this compelled the local youth to rise, spread education and mobilize the masses. These activists are also urging the local administration to play its part in combating drug addiction, or widespread protest demonstration would be staged.
The district governor, Mohammad Akbar, has acknowledged the rise of drug addiction among the residents. He blamed insecurity for this, and stressed the Kabul government should pay attention to this issue.
The Khost residents are particularly concerned about the spreading addiction to ‘sheesha’ among the youth.
Najiullah Hambdard, head of the directorate of counter-narcotics, has hailed the movement initiated by the youth in Yaquboyo Aw Sabaroyo. He said those addicted and in need of treatment should be referred to the local administration.
According to the locals, the relatively peaceful districts in the province are equally marred by rampant sale and consumption of narcotics forcing the youth to campaign against it on their own.
ENDS
