The Herat Counter-Narcotics Directorate says that in the past two years, nearly 20,000 addicts have been treated in this province.

These addicts, who come from various provinces of the country, have returned to normal life after completing their treatment period at the specialized addiction treatment hospital in Herat.

Meanwhile, some of the recovered individuals say they will never turn to drugs again.

Mohammad Asif, a 50-year-old resident of Badakhshan, is undergoing treatment at the specialized addiction treatment hospital in Herat. He became addicted to drugs in an Iranian prison.

Mohammad Asif, who was formerly a pilot for the Afghan Air Force and spent 18 years in an Iranian prison, told TOLOnews: "During Doctor Najibullah’s era, I trained as a pilot in Tajikistan and had 25 international flights in Afghanistan. But a tragedy led me to the Islamic Republic, where I spent a long time in Iranian prisons. The prison caused me to become addicted to drugs."

Many people at the specialized addiction treatment hospital in Herat have had their lives darkened by drugs, like Mohammad Asif. They had been distanced from their families and society due to addiction.

"I am a sports champion in Taekwondo, having won medals for Afghanistan from Russia, Pakistan, Bosnia, and Iran. I am a medalist for Afghanistan, bringing medals from four foreign countries,” Abdul Karim, an addict undergoing treatment, told TOLOnews.

"There are many people here who are educated and literate, but drugs have done something that threw them into corners. Drugs distanced them from their families, relatives, society, and God,” said Nematullah, another addict under treatment.

Hayatullah Rouhani, the director of the Herat Counter-Narcotics Police, said: "Approximately 20,000 addicts have been treated in Herat, who were previously hospitalized in various camps and clinics. It’s been about 16 months since we established a state-run hospital here, where they are being treated."

According to local officials in Herat, most of the addicts treated in Herat became addicted in Iran. After returning to the country, they were gathered by the Herat Counter-Narcotics Directorate and treated in this hospital.