As the production and distribution of addictive tablets continue to expand across Afghanistan, several young people say that unemployment and economic hardship have driven them to use K and Zeegap tablets. According to them, they turned to these substances to escape grief, psychological pressure, and the harsh conditions of daily life. Meanwhile, doctors warn that K and Zeegap tablets are among the most highly addictive substances available, and that a person may develop permanent dependency after only a few uses.
Rishad (pseudonym), one of these young people, says that due to his association with addicted friends and a lack of anything to occupy his time, he turned to K and Zeegap tablets and has since become dependent on them. He says, “Because of associating with the wrong people, unemployment, and having nothing to do, I became addicted. I was also deeply saddened by life’s circumstances and wanted my mind to be free from problems, even if just for a few moments of happiness.” According to him, he has been using these substances for four years.
The young man adds, “Sometimes I use them every day, sometimes a few times a week, and sometimes every other day or two. When I use them, I feel happy and don’t think about anything. My head spins, my body goes numb, and I laugh a lot.” He says he dissolves one tablet in water or a soft drink and then drinks it.
Rishad says: “If I have money, I use it every day, but if I don’t, I wait a day or two, or use it once a week. Sometimes my wealthier friends buy them, and I use them along with them.” According to Rishad, various types of these tablets exist in the market, with both original and counterfeit versions sold at different prices.
He adds: “The price of these tablets starts at 150 Afghanis and can go up to 700, two thousand, and even five thousand Afghanis. The original variety is more expensive. There are specific sellers in each area who, with the backing of influential individuals, provide these substances to their trusted customers.”
Omid (pseudonym), another young man, says: “The story began when I was a teenager, full of the excitement and energy of youth. My addiction started with a single cigarette and gradually progressed. Life’s problems mounted one after another until I reached a point where facing them had become too difficult for me.” According to him, his friends, who were themselves already using K tablets, encouraged him to use the substances as well.
Omid adds, “It has now been nearly five years since I occasionally used these substances. I get them from a dealer and, depending on circumstances, use them two to four times a month or once a week.” He says his level of consumption is not consistent and that in some months he uses them less, while in others he uses them more.
Ahmad (pseudonym), a driver on the Shaheed Square to Kote Sangi route, says he turned to tablets to cope with difficult economic conditions. He says, “I am a driver and must make ten trips a day just to cover the cost of fuel and provide for my family’s income. Without using tablets, I simply do not have the strength to do this.”
Ahmad says he is aware of the harm these substances cause, but that his difficult living conditions have pushed him in this direction. He adds, “I know the damage they cause, but I have no choice. I went to school, I went to university, and I looked hard for work, but found nothing. I was forced to become a vehicle cleaner, and now I am a driver. Poverty and destitution drive a person to hundreds of unsuitable things.” According to him, the responsibility of providing for his family and the pressures of economic hardship have pushed many people toward using these substances.
This Kabul resident says: “When your child is hungry, and your family is counting on you for a better life, you find yourself looking for any way to keep going and cope.”
Ahmad claims that the use of K tablets is common among a number of public transport drivers. He adds, “It is not only me; many drivers use these substances.”
Jawid (pseudonym), a doctor at one of the state hospitals, says that the use of K and Zeegap tablets has, in recent years, become a serious public health and social problem.
The doctor says: “These substances are typically supplied in the market as illegal tablets with unknown compositions, and for this reason,n the risks associated with their use are unpredictable and extremely serious.” According to him, physically, the use of these substances can cause increased heart rate, severe insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss, general bodily weakness, tremors, headaches, and, in severe cases, heart problems and even loss of consciousness.
Jawid adds: “Psychologically, users may also suffer from anxiety, depression, aggression, restlessness, hallucinations, memory disorders, and severe behavioral changes.” According to the doctor, K and Zeegap tablets are highly addictive substances. He says, “Without these substances, a person experiences severe discomfort, insomnia, and anxiety, and turns back to using them to return to a normal state. This process creates a cycle of severe and long-term dependency.”
Jawid stresses that treatment for dependency on these substances is possible, but requires time, patience, and support. He adds: “The best approach to treatment is visiting addiction treatment centers, undergoing medically supervised detoxification, receiving psychological counseling, having family support, and changing one’s living environment. Sudden withdrawal without medical supervision can be dangerous and can bring about severe withdrawal symptoms.”
Jawid adds that the rise in K and Zeegap tablet use among young people has multiple causes, including unemployment, poverty, psychological problems, social pressures, curiosity, easy access, and a lack of awareness about the dangers of these substances. He says: “Many young people begin using these substances without any awareness of their consequences, but very quickly find themselves facing dependency and serious health and psychological problems.”
This comes as several Kabul residents, in interviews with the Hasht-e Subh Daily some time ago, expressed serious concern about the buying and selling of addictive tablets. They had said that poverty, unemployment, the absence of job opportunities, and an uncertain future have led many young people and adolescents in the city to turn to these substances for short-term relief.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
تابلیت کا و زیکپ؛ جوانانی که درد فقر را با زهر قرصها میبلعند
