Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, the basic ingredient for heroin. The drug economy permeates Afghanistan's economy, politics and society and promotes the political and social instability in the country. It also weakens the state and its power and prevents the development of good governance whilst posing a great obstacle to the reconstruction process, the achievement of national development goals and the successful implemenation of projects. In addition, it has negative macro-economic consequences through its large equivalent proportion of the GNP (60%) and on the balance of payments.

Warlords and local rulers use the drug business to finance their arms and soldiers and secure their power position in the provinces. The drug economy is weakening the position of the government of president Karzai in Kabul and threatens the democratisation process. On the other hand, drug misuse and dependence is a growing social and health problem in Afghanistan, especially among returning refugees and women and is often linked to post-war trauma and to the fact that opium is easily available. Hence, the drug economy poses a serious threat to sustainable development in Afghanistan.

The GTZ Development-oriented Drug Control Programme is working conceptually on the issue of drugs and development in Afghanistan. On this page you will find updated information from various sources on the drug problem and possible solutions, as well as some insight into the work of the GTZ in this area.

• Drug economy in Afghanistan: from the producers to the users
  A GTZ presentation for a conference held at Head Office in December 2005 on the current status of the drug economy and the challenges for international donors..
  de-EOD-Druguse-Afg-2005.pdf, 0.58 MB (German)
• Governance, Security and Economic Growth: The Determinants of Opium Poppy Cultivation in the Districts of Jurm and Baharak in Badakhshan
  Study by David Mansfield, 2007
  en-eod-report-Badakhshan.pdf, 2.29 MB (English)
• Frontiers and wars: the opium economy in Afghanistan
  This article describes the development of the drug economy in Afghanistan and investigates the factors that led to its increase since the fall of the Taliban. The historic reasons for the cultivation of opium poppy are being analysed within the framework of state formation and the current dynamic behind the opium economy is highlighted. The author is Jonathan Goodhand from SOAS, London.
  en-opium-economy-2005-afg.pdf, 0.56 MB (574KB English)
• Mitigating the effects of illicit drugs on development
  Rand Drug Policy Research Centre (DPRC) was commissioned by the World Bank in 2004 to carry out an analysis of the impact of illicit drug economies on developing countries. The analysis proposes recommendations to the World Bank on how to deal with the drug problem, other donors can use these as orientation.
  en-wb-effects-drug-dev-afg.pdf, 0.80 MB (820KB English)
• Drugs and Development in Afghanistan
  Paper No. 18 of the World Bank series "Social Development Papers", December 2004, investigates the connections between drugs and development in Afghanistan and argues that the drug problem is a central obstacle to development in this country.
  en-wb-drugs-development-afg.pdf, 0.68 MB (695KB English)
• Road to Ruin: Afghanistan's booming opium industry
  In this publication, the "Center on International Cooperation" and the "Center for American Progress" discuss the historical background of the opium industry in Afghanistan and analyse the so far unsuccessful efforts of the US and other international donors to halt the opium economy. Recommendations to the donor community are being made in the report.
  en-road-ruin-opium-afg.pdf, 2.81 MB (2,18 MB English)

Websites of GTZ Programmes

• Project for Alternative Livelihood in Eastern Afghanistan (PAL)
  More information on PAL project which is implemented by GTZ and commissioned by EC. PAL is active in the Eastern provinces of Afghanistan.
  www.palinfo.org