Teens Addicted to ‘Tabletka’ and ‘Zikp’ Reveal How Free Distribution Led to Substance Abuse

Several teenagers hospitalized at the 450-bed Jangalak Addiction Treatment Center in Kabul report that after receiving free substances known as ‘Tabletka’ and ‘Zikp’ and encouragement from their peers, they began using these drugs and ultimately became addicted.

These teenagers add that initially, these substances were provided to them for free, with assurances that their consumption was harmless. According to them, easy access and peer promotion contributed to the spread of usage among some adolescents.

Jangalak Hospital in Kabul is one of the largest addiction treatment centers in the country, and the hospitalization of teenagers there has raised concerns about increasing youth access to addictive substances.

Meanwhile, the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior has reported the smuggling of ‘Tabletka’ and ‘Zikp’ into the country and announced measures to prevent their import and distribution. However, the presence of addicted teenagers in treatment centers indicates that the current measures have not effectively prevented easy access to these substances; an issue that calls for more practical actions and clear accountability from authorities.