Your article (Cold turkey and shackles, 2 June) underscores the tragic rise in the number of Afghans suffering from substance-use disorders and the need to expand the availability of evidence-based treatment for men, women and children suffering from addiction.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs supports 97 of 123 treatment programmes in Afghanistan. These facilities follow internationally recognised, evidence-based practices. Treatment is 100% voluntary and the programmes are regularly monitored through unannounced inspections.
The facilities do not use ankle-shackling, detention or other coercive efforts which do not represent evidence-based practices. The Tarin Kot “clinic” cited in your article does not meet these criteria and is not among those clinics supported by United States foreign assistance in partnership with the government of Afghanistan.
Our policy recognises that the drug problem in Afghanistan requires a comprehensive approach that addresses alternative livelihoods for poppy growers, effective criminal justice to disrupt traffickers and improving the public health sector’s ability to address the burgeoning number of drug users.
James P DeHart
Deputy assistant secretary of state, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, United States Department of State
