'Afghanistan has become the new meth capital of the world,' UN warns

A recent report from the United Nations drug agency reveals that Afghanistan is now the world’s leading producer of methamphetamine. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released this report on Sunday. According to the report, meth in Afghanistan is mainly created using the ephedra plant, which grows naturally, or substances legally available within the country. The report states that Afghanistan’s increasing meth production poses a growing threat to the health and security of the nation and the surrounding region. This surge in meth supply could lead to addiction problems and disrupt the synthetic drug market. Furthermore, meth believed to originate from Afghanistan has already been confiscated in East Africa and the European Union, as mentioned in the report. The annual seizures of meth within Afghanistan have skyrocketed from 220 pounds in 2019 to a staggering 6,000 pounds in 2021, indicating a significant increase in production. Unfortunately, the report lacks specific data on the total quantity of meth produced in Afghanistan, its value, or the extent of its use by Afghan citizens. Angela Me, Chief of the UNODC Research and Trend Analysis Branch, explained that producing meth in Afghanistan offers several advantages over making other drugs like cocaine or heroin. Unlike those substances, meth doesn’t require waiting for crops to grow or a significant amount of land. Meth labs can be mobile and discreet. Afghanistan’s abundance of the ephedra plant, which is not found in major meth-producing countries like Myanmar and Mexico, makes it a convenient source for meth production. Me also noted that it is too early to determine the impact of the Taliban’s efforts to combat drug production and supply in Afghanistan. The Associated Press also reported that Afghanistan is grappling with a drought and severe economic challenges stemming from decades of conflict and war in the region. Although Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government claims to have dismantled 644 narcotics facilities and eradicated about 12,000 acres of land used for drug cultivation, a UN report from 2022 indicated a 32% increase in opium cultivation since the Taliban took control. An anonymous health official in the country, speaking to the AP, disclosed that approximately 20,000 Afghans are in hospitals due to drug addiction, with crystal meth being a predominant factor.