What is happening in Afghanistan?

What is happening with Afghan Opium production?

The bountiful sprawling fields of brightly colored opium flowers cover Afghanistan valleys and agricultural land. These opium fields serve as a means of fueling the opium trade in various countries, especially the United States. The opium extracted from opium poppy flowers are utilized to produce street drugs like Heroin. In the United States these drugs have proven to plague the streets of urban cities, affluent suburbs, and small towns. The opioid crisis is taking tens of thousands of lives per year as people trade their expensive under the counter opioids for cheap street drugs like Heroin. The opioid crisis is often portrayed to to Americans by the media as an issue that can be solved by targeting big pharmaceutical companies; however that is just one side of the story. Another question that Americans should be asking is where does heroin come from? In the World Drug Report in 2010 it was estimated that Afghanistan accounts for “around 90% of global illicit opium production.” In recent years this figure has grown and with global new outlets reporting that Afghan famers are expecting a “record-high opium boom” (VICE). The UN has reported that “ poppy cultivation grew by 63% in 2017.” These statistics have not only alarmed officials worldwide but Afghan officials now are under pressure to halt the growth of illicit opium.

The opium war is not only affected Afghan farmers it has had it’s spiraling effects within the Afghan population. In the past two years Afghan drug addicts has increased from 500,000 to three million, with a large number being child addicts (Al Jazeera).It has been reported that that the Afghanistan government has been taking action; however there is another side of this complex opium war. The Taliban who control key poppy growing territories and where around “10% of the population” lives is thriving off of the illicit trade. The UN reports that the Taliban’s revenue from the opium trade is around $3 billion dollars (CNN). They utilize this money to pay fighters, weapons, and other means. The Taliban keeps their elusive existence by keeping their headquarters in the neighboring country of Pakistan. However, as the investigation continues it is clear that the Taliban is not the only entity to blame. Afghanistan is susceptible to corruption as well. It has been reported by various global news organizations that Afghan officials have stakes in the land too, even taking a percentage cut from the Taliban.

Although International intervention is almost never wanted and seen as having an overarching meaning it is almost necessary at this point. Those most affected are poor Afghans who have become addicts along with those forced to produce the opium flowers. It is clear that not only targeting the Taliban is necessary but officials who do not comply with halting the production of opium. With the topic gaining more international attention I keep positive that the problem with decrease over the years.