Findings from Salam Watandar’s interviews with 41 children and adolescents under the age of 18 (aged 13–17) who are addicted to drugs show that these children were introduced to drugs and became addicted through their friends and acquaintances.
Friends and acquaintances; where addiction begins
Among the 41 children interviewed, 37 said they were introduced to drugs by friends, one by a classmate, and three by relatives.
Of these children, 27 turned to criminal activities after becoming addicted. Among them, 19 became involved in drug dealing and trafficking while also committing theft, while the remaining eight engaged in theft after developing drug addiction.
Based on the findings, the majority of these children became addicted to drugs before the age of 15. Among them, 14 use tramadol and Zeegap, 10 use methamphetamine (crystal meth), heroin, and opium; nine use K tablets; and eight use hashish.
The children said they were drawn into drug use out of curiosity and a desire for pleasure, often after being encouraged by their friends. All interviewees were undergoing treatment at drug rehabilitation centers in Kabul. To protect their identities, pseudonyms have been used throughout this report.
Ahmad, a 15-year-old boy addicted to drugs who is undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, says that a friend encouraged him to take K tablets to feel happy and experience pleasure.
“I wanted to study, but I couldn’t. My friend told me he would give me a pill that would make me happy and help me work better. After I took it, I worked very fast. I used heroin and crystal meth for four years. Sometimes I thought about killing myself. My dream is to quit drugs and find a job,” he says.
Children who draw other children into drug use, sustain their addiction, and participate in the distribution and sale of drugs raise speculation about the existence of organized networks that use children to attract and addict other children, extending beyond individual behavior.
Hassan, a 16-year-old from Herat, says he became addicted to drugs after being introduced to them by a friend. He explains,
“I’ve been using drugs for three years. I left school in the eighth grade. My friend told me it was something good, so I used it. After three days, I became addicted.”
From addiction to crime; the second path for child drug users
27 of the children interviewed turned to crime and other offenses after becoming addicted. Of these, 19 became involved in drug selling in addition to other offenses
Shabir, a 16-year-old boy addicted to drugs, says he had been selling drugs to cover his own drug expenses. He says,
“For three years, I both used drugs and sold them. For the first time I got drugs from my friend. I paid for my addiction by dealing drugs, and I also stole.”
Farid, another 16-year-old boy addicted to drugs, says he was first introduced to drugs by a friend and later joined his friend’s group. He says,
“For two years, I supported my family by selling drugs. I got them from Qambar Square, prepared them, and sold them. My friend first told me that crystal meth was better than cigarettes and naswar (a form of smokeless tobacco). When I tried it, I became addicted. Then I asked him where he got it. He said, ‘Come with us. We steal too. Work with us, and we’ll split the money.'”
Among the 41 children addicted to drugs, eight said they had committed theft to finance their drug use, while two reported using both light and bladed weapons while committing theft.
Ehsanullah, a 15-year-old boy addicted to drugs, says he had taken part in armed robberies to pay for his drugs. He adds,
“We threatened people with knives and guns or picked their pockets. This is my second time. The first time, I wasn’t fully determined. My friends led me back into drugs. When I left the rehabilitation center, one of them had already lit a cigarette. We smoked, and I became addicted again. Once, I stabbed someone with a knife.”
Ahmad, a 14-year-old from Kapisa, says he repeatedly committed theft to pay for his drugs. “My family’s financial situation isn’t good. I used to collect electrical cables. When I couldn’t earn enough money, I stole.”
Social isolation; when family and community reject them
Some of the children also said that after becoming addicted, they were rejected by their families and their communities.
Musawer, 15-year-old boy addicted to drugs, says that during his addiction he became deeply isolated from both his family and the community.
“I used to fight at home. I isolated from my family and society. I started hating my family. I stayed alone in my room. I regret it so much. I don’t want to think about my past at all. I’ve come to hate my neighborhood—I never want to be back there,” he says.
This report also interviewed six youth currently undergoing drug rehabilitation. Like the children interviewed, all six were introduced to drugs by their friends before the age of 15. Three are 18 years old, while the other three are between 19 and 21.
Hazrat, a 22-year-old resident of Kabul and the father of one child, says his wife left him because of his drug use.
“When I fought with my family, I would set our clothes and belongings on fire. My family kept telling me, ‘You’re an addict—you can no longer be the man of the house.’ My father-in-law even took my wife away from me,” he says.
Meanwhile, doctors working at drug rehabilitation clinics for youth say the most commonly used substances among their patients are K tablets, Zeegap, pregabalin, and hashish. They emphasize that family support can play a crucial role in the treatment and recovery of adolescents and youth with drug addiction.
Family and the role of friends in the addiction crisis
Hafizullah Faizi, a psychologist, says, “The most commonly used substances are K tablets, hashish, and pregabalin capsules. The average age of our patients is between 18 and 22. The success of treatment largely depends on the duration of drug use. During recovery, support from family and the community is essential for effective recovery.”
Faridullah Mohammadi, another psychologist, says, “The substances most commonly used by youth are hashish, Zeegap, and pregabalin. Most of our patients are between 13 and 17 years old. Family problems, friends, and adolescents’ curiosity are the leading factors driving addiction.”
Experts also identify friends, poverty, adolescent’s curiosity, lack of proper parental supervision and upbringing, family problems, and easy access to drugs as the most common factors contributing to substance use among youth.
They further warn about the long-term consequences of drug use, emphasizing that adolescents are at greater risk. Sharafuddin Azimi, head of the Afghanistan Psychological Counseling (APC) office, says,
“Family conflict, problems, and violence have increased the risk of youth developing drug dependence. Spending time with friends who use drugs, social gatherings with addicted friends in schools and educational centers, as well as unemployment and poverty, all contribute to addiction and can motivate youth to sell drugs. When individuals become depressed, they are more likely to use drugs.”
Jawad Mirzaei, a psychologist and university lecturer, says addiction has far-reaching consequences for adolescents and youth. In addition to its many harmful effects, substance use disrupts learning and increases the risk of mental disorders and cardiovascular disease.
“Addiction can have negative consequences for youth. It can lead to depression, hopelessness, and low self-esteem, and disrupt learning. It damages their ability to build relationships and increases the risk of mental health disorders. It also raises the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, premature death, and other high-risk behaviors,” he adds.
Why are adolescents drawn into addiction?
Jamaluddin Sulaimani, a university lecturer, identifies poverty as one of the primary drivers of youth addiction. He says that for many children and adolescents, engaging in illegal activities and earning quick money through drug sales becomes the «bad- option».
“When families cannot meet their children’s basic daily needs, youth may feel compelled to turn to illegal activities, including drug selling. Some adolescents may even see this as more worthwhile than going to school because selling drugs solves the problem immediately, whereas school and education take years, and job opportunities remain limited,” he says.
Mohammad Najman Zamani, another university lecturer, also believes that poverty, combined with inadequate parental supervision, pushes youth toward drug use.
“Poverty, weak parental supervision, and family neglect are among the main factors driving youth toward addiction. Education takes time to produce results, and many youth also lack foresight. Their friends also influence their behavior. Long-term economic support and paving the ground for education and training can be beneficial in preventing this problem,” he says.
Shoaib Ahmadi, a sociologist, however, believes that many adolescents and youth become involved in illegal activities because they lose hope for growth and development, particularly when they experience rough treatment from teachers. He explains,
“Teachers are role models in society. When they treat students in a rough manner, youth’s level of education declines and they become discouraged. If this is not prevented, the consequences can be bad. Poverty and unemployment do not play a major role. When youth are not given proper attention from an early age, they may turn to illegal activities in an attempt to progress more quickly.”
Noor Ahmad Khalidi, a human rights activist, warned about the consequences of the growing number of addicted youth. He says,
“If serious and coordinated measures are not taken today to prevent and support adolescents, Afghanistan will face a lost generation in the future—one in which a large proportion will be addicted, unemployed, uneducated, violent, and migrated. The cost of addressing this crisis in the future will be a thousand times higher than the cost of prevention today.”
Government measures against addiction
Meanwhile, officials at the Ministry of Public Health say the ministry is working to prevent rising drug use among students and to raise awareness of the negative consequences of addiction.
Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, says, “We provide specialized treatment services for youth in Kabul and the provinces. Our daily public awareness programs in schools and public places are ongoing across the country.”
Hasibullah Ahmadi, head of the Office of the Deputy for Counter-Narcotics, says, “As a result of the efforts of the Counter-Narcotics Deputy Office, drug production in the country has been reduced to zero. Across Kabul and the provinces, 185,000 addicted people have been collected and transferred to treatment centers. During treatment, they are also provided with vocational training, and after completing rehabilitation they are returned to their families.”
Global statistics; a broader picture of Afghanistan’s addiction crisis
Based on data released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on February 1, 2026, hashish accounts for the largest share of drug use among men in Afghanistan, representing 46% of total drug use. Opium accounts for 19%, K tablets for 11%, and methamphetamine (“crystal meth”) for 7%.
UN estimates indicate that Afghanistan is currently have nearly 4 million drug users—equivalent to approximately 10% of the country’s population. Of these, findings published by UNODC in June 2025, focusing on high-risk drug users in public settings, identified approximately 2,150 children under the age of 15 as high-risk drug users.
Reporter: Nilofar Mohammadi
