KUNDUZ -  Afghan and United Nations officials in northern Afghanistan are trying to teach families not to feed their infants opium to keep them asleep while they work.

Around forty young parents from carpet weaving families in the Qala-e-Zal district attended a two-day workshop on the harmful effects of opium use, especially among children.

“Unfortunately, families give opium to their children who are two to five years of age to keep them asleep while they weave,” said Abdul Wahid, one of the participants.

The remote northern area of the country is prized for its carpets. The area is also among the poorest in the country, with a lack of infrastructure and services, including few hospitals. As a result, some families also offer opium to their children as medicine, and to pregnant women to ease childbirth.

According to a report by the UN Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), at the end of June 2011, the national average dry opium price collected from traders was US$ 274/kg. The average dry opium price is 104 per cent higher than the price reported last year in June 2010 which was US$ 134/kg.

“Hence, as much as demand creates supply - supply creates demand. Afghanistan drugs are ruining lives in Afghanistan itself. Prisons are overcrowded because of this, HIV is spreading among injecting drug users, and the everyday human drama can be witnessed coming with this, in too many homes,” said Jean-Luc Lemahieu, UNODC Country Office Representative.

A UNODC survey on Drug Use in Afghanistan shows that around one million Afghans aged between 15 and 64 suffer from drug addiction. At eight per cent of the population, this rate is twice the global average.

As part of the workshop – organized by the Kunduz Youth Information and Communication Center with the financial support of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – Afghan youth were encouraged to spread awareness of the issues within their communities.

“I will share my awareness of opium risks with my family and neighbors,” said Ahmadullah, a youth family member who attended the programme.

He added that youth can play a significant role in fighting negative practices in society, such as drug abuse or HIV/AIDS which are passed through intravenous drug use.

By UNAMA Kunduz