Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium and heroin. This book explores the devastating impact that the drugs trade has had on the Afghan people.

Author David Macdonald has worked as a drugs advisor to the UN. Based on his extensive experience, this book breaks down the myths surrounding the cultivation and consumption of drugs, providing a detailed analysis of the history of drug use within the country. He examines the impact of over 25 years of continuous conflict, and shows how poverty and instability has led to an increase in drugs consumption. He also considers the recent rise in the use of pharmaceutical drugs, resulting in dangerous chemical cocktails and analyses the effect of Afghanistan's drug trade on neighbouring countries.

David Macdonald is a sociologist who has specialised in drug control for over 20 years. Since 1999 he worked as the demand reduction advisor for the UN drugs control programme in Afghanistan with UNODC and also with the Ministry of Counter Narcotics in Kabul.

Map
List of abbreviations
Glossary of terms
Acknowledgements
Prologue
1. Introduction
2. Scorpion tales
3. A nation in anguish
4. Opium cultivators
5. Heroin producers and traffickers
6. Outlaws and warlords
7. Drug use in Afghanistan’s history
8. Neighbours and refugees
9. A tale of two opiums
10. Hashish and hakims
11. Pharmaceuticals and chemical cocktails
12. Masters of the universe: other drugs and future dimensions
13. Scorpion tails
Postscript
Notes
Index