Within the past six months, nearly 500 female drug addicts have been taken to rehabilitation centers, the counter-narcotics department of the Interior Ministry said.

The head of the office of the deputy minister for counter-narcotics, Haseebullah Ahmadi, said 250 children affected with drugs were also taken to rehabilitation centers within this period.

"in the country's zones,  20,000 drug addicts are being treated in the centers every three months,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), said that over 1,000 female drug addicts are under treatment across the country.

Aisha (alias), 38, is in a rehabilitation center in the capital Kabul. Aisha said she has three children, and they are staying with her in the center.

"When I saw my life condition, I said there will be winter, what should I do. I called the doctors. They told me to come back to the hospital, otherwise, you will be addicted again," she said.

“We have had economic problems. I was having kidney pain for two nights and days, then my husband told me to use this drug and will go to the doctor in the morning. Once I used it, I became addicted to it," said a drug addict.

Dozens of other women drug addicts are under treatment alongside Aisha. They called on the Islamic Emirate to address their needs.

The head of the rehabilitation center, Shahista, said that they are facing various challenges.

"We don't have electricity. When we don't have electricity, we don't have water as well. This is our main problem," Shahista said.

"The main reasons that they become drug addicts are the economic hardship, family violence, and psychological pressure,” said Najia, a nurse.

However, the MoPH said that there are no exact details about the number of female drug addicts but based on a survey conducted in 2018, from 3.5 million drug addicts 58,0000 of them are women.