Several recovered drug addicts and their families claim that at some drug treatment centers in Kandahar, instead of preventing drug use, the environment has been made accessible for patients to obtain and sell narcotics. They say that in some cases, treatment center staff supply drugs to patients or facilitate the buying and selling of these substances inside the centers.
Gul Ahmad (pseudonym), a resident of Kandahar, says he was under treatment for three months at a drug treatment hospital in Kandahar some time ago. He says he expected to be freed from drug addiction after three months of treatment, but according to him, the presence of drugs at the treatment center negatively affected patients’ recovery process.
Ezzamullah (pseudonym), another young man who was recently discharged from a treatment center, says he complained to officials several times about the presence of drugs at the hospital, but according to him, his complaints were never addressed.
What is happening inside the treatment centers?
For this report, the Hasht-e Subh Daily spoke with 12 former patients, their families, and other sources. Five of these individuals claimed that during their treatment at addiction recovery centers, they were given drugs or had access to purchasing them. They say that at some treatment centers, staff have provided patients with access to drugs or facilitated their covert buying and selling.
Are drugs being smuggled into treatment centers?
A source claims that some individuals enter drug treatment centers posing as companions of patients and use this method to deliver drugs to patients. According to this source, there is also evidence indicating that some officials or staff at these centers are aware of drug sales taking place inside them, or turn a blind eye to it.
Allegations concerning Taliban officials
Another source, who wished to remain anonymous, claims that some senior Taliban military officials are involved in drug trafficking. According to this source, these individuals are present within the security commands of Kandahar, Zabul, Helmand, and Uruzgan, and some of them also hold senior positions within the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior Affairs.
This source named two individuals in Kandahar, “Fazluddin” and “Mohammad Anwar,” claiming that they are involved in drug trafficking in Kabul and various provinces, particularly involving “Tablet K” and other substances. According to this source’s claims, thousands of narcotic pills are sold daily through their network. The Hasht-e Subh Daily cannot independently verify the accuracy of these claims.
Arrests on drug-related charges
While preparing this report, the Hasht-e Subh Daily also spoke with families who claim that their relatives were arrested on charges of involvement with drugs without sufficient evidence.
The family of another man in Kandahar says he was arrested in August 2025. According to his father, he associated with individuals who were relatives of Taliban officials, but only his son was arrested, while the others he associated with remain free in their homes.
Families: Treatment centers should be places that prevent addiction
Families of drug-addicted individuals in Kandahar and several other regions in the south of the country are concerned that if treatment centers, instead of providing a path to recovery and a return to a healthy life, become centers for buying and selling drugs, the treatment process will face serious problems. According to them, a person placed in a treatment center to overcome addiction should be kept completely away from these substances, but if the same substances become accessible to them inside the center, the primary goal of treatment is undermined.
Residents of Kandahar say that the operations of these centers should be regularly monitored, and alongside treating patients, efforts should be made to prevent the possible entry and sale of drugs. These allegations regarding the renewed encouragement of drug use come at a time when the Taliban have been conducting extensive propaganda in the country about combating narcotics and the collection and treatment of drug-addicted individuals.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
مراکز درمان معتادان در قندهار؛ به بیماران مواد مخدر به فروش میرسد
