Technical Training Program Launched for 250 Drug Addicts at Balkh Rehabilitation Center

Local authorities in Balkh province have announced that alongside the ongoing treatment of drug addicts, technical and vocational training programs have been initiated for 250 individuals at the province’s rehabilitation center. These trainings include tailoring, embroidery, shoemaking, electrical wiring, and repair of electrical appliances, aiming to prepare participants for reintegration into normal life.

According to officials at the center, nearly one thousand individuals are currently undergoing treatment at the Balkh drug rehabilitation camp. They add that providing work skills can reduce the likelihood of relapse into drug use and facilitate the reintegration of these individuals into society.

Some trainees consider these programs an important step toward empowering drug addicts. Mirwais, one of the trainees, says that after years of social harm, he is striving to start a new life by learning a trade and avoid returning to paths that had cost him his reputation.

At the same time, some trainees urge the Taliban administration not to limit these initiatives to training alone. Hashmatullah, another trainee, emphasizes that without access to tools, work permits, and practical support, creating sustainable employment and a dignified return to society will be difficult – a demand highlighting a serious gap in post-treatment support policies.

Officials at the Balkh rehabilitation center state this is the first round of professional training for addicts in the province. They add that in the first nine months of this year, over two thousand individuals completed their treatment and returned to their families, and that going forward, 500 more people will be trained annually in these fields.