Obama's Afghan War Helps Create Many Opium Addicted Children

"A group of researchers hired by the U.S. Department of State found staggering levels of opium in Afghan children, some as young as 14 months old..."

"Among the factors leading to increased levels of drug use is the
high unemployment rate throughout the country, the social upheaval provoked by this war and those that preceded it, as well as the return of refugees from Iran and Pakistan who became addicts while abroad."

Here is the link to the full article.

Posted by Dave Trippel on July 5, 2010 at 01:17 PM in Addiction, Afghanistan, Opium, United States | Permalink

Fungus hits Afghan poppy crop (and raises heroin price)

Fungus that destroys perhaps a quarter of the Afghan poppy crop had raised the price of heroin for the benefit of the Taliban.  For more, see here.

Posted by David Fahey on May 13, 2010 at 07:20 PM in Afghanistan, Heroin | Permalink

UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey Executive Summary 2009

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (and Terrorism) has just released this report containing much information in map and graphic form. It is a 9meg .pdf document downloadable from this website.

Posted by Dave Trippel on September 23, 2009 at 01:54 AM in Afghanistan, Drugs (general), Law Enforcement, Opium | Permalink

"Counterproductive" Afghan Drug Eradication by U.S. Ended

After many years, the unsuccessful program spending $18,000 per acre of U.S. taxpayer's money to eradicate poppies in Afghanistan has ended.  See the article here

Posted by Dave Trippel on July 30, 2009 at 06:47 PM in Afghanistan, Drugs (general), Law Enforcement, Licensing and Legislation, Opium | Permalink

Black-market cigarettes

Tim Elfrink wrote this dramatic summary of the recent history of cigarette smuggling as a source of terrorist income for the Miami New Times.

Posted by Jon on July 7, 2009 at 07:48 AM in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ireland, North Korea, Tobacco, United States | Permalink

A bonfire of drugs in Kabul

"In the foothills north of Kabul, six and a half tonnes of heroin, opium and hashish were set ablaze..." It was "...a minuscule triumph, a small victory against the traffickers." See the Al Jazeera article here.

Posted by Dave Trippel on May 13, 2009 at 10:29 PM in Afghanistan, Opium, Pakistan | Permalink

Obama Plan for U.S. Military - Help Eradicate Afghan Opium

The Times of India explains the setting, and the new U.S. administration's desires here.

Posted by Dave Trippel on April 22, 2009 at 07:44 PM in Afghanistan, Opium, Pakistan, United States | Permalink

Afghan opium problem discussed

Bernd Debusmann, Reuters columnist, discusses the Afghan opium problem, and readers comment.  For more, see here.  Thanks to David Trippel for the tip.

Posted by David Fahey on January 29, 2009 at 07:42 PM in Afghanistan, Opium | Permalink

Christina Oguz interviewed re opium-growing in Afghanistan

Dave Trippel brings to our attention an interview with Christina Oguz, country director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Afghanistan.  Nearly all the opium grown in the country is grown in seven southern provinces.  For the interview, see here

Posted by David Fahey on December 5, 2008 at 09:31 PM in Afghanistan, Opium | Permalink

Taliban stockpiling opium

The Taliban is stockpiling opium in Afghanistan in order to keep prices from slipping.  For more, see here.

Posted by David Fahey on November 27, 2008 at 02:53 PM in Afghanistan, Opium | Permalink