Last exit to Kabul

The Russian cultural centre in Kabul, Afghanistan. The ruined centre is home to many of the country's heroin addicts. The arts centre, built by the Soviet Union, was destroyed by the mujahideen civil war after the Soviets troops withdrew from Afghanistan Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

The grounds of the Russian cultural centre are littered with heroin addicts sleeping after using the drug Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

The Russian cultural centre attracts not just heroin addicts but many children and teenagers who play in its ruins away from the attentions of adults Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

An addict sleeps after using heroin. Most of Afghanistan's addicts are refugee returnees from Iran and Pakistan, where they developed their habit Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

The ruins of the Russian cultural center are full of rooms where heroin addicts use the drug away from public view Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Ali Razad, 50, injects himself with heroin Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Two addicts feel the effects of the drug Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

A heroin addict smokes in an old turbine engine tube Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Gaharib, a 28-year-old addict whose arms bear the scars of his suicide attempts Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Gaharib, 28, stands in a basement of the ruined Russian cultural centre Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Mahmoud Hussein, 17, lost all of his relatives during the mujahideen civil war Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

An addict walks through the ruins of the Russian cultural centre Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

A young man asleep after injecting heroin Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Addicts smoke heroin in the basement of the ruined Russian cultural centre Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos

Ahmed Zaki, 37, at the Nejat drug rehabilitation clinic, in Kabul. Zaki is a new patient who is trying to kick the habit he acquired while he was a refugee in Iran Photograph: Antonio Olmos/Antonio Olmos