Pray for Addicts in Afghanistan

Most people will never hear about a man like Qasim. He is from a remote part of Afghanistan; a member of an overlooked tribe, from an unreached people group; and he is a drug addict.

As a young man, Qasim travelled across the border to work in a neighboring Islamic country. There, he was given drugs to make him more productive and able to work longer hours. He became addicted and before long, the drugs made him less productive, not more. Replaced by another worker who would likely follow the same pattern of exploitation, Qasim returned home. His addiction brought great shame on his family, who would have nothing to do with him. He ended up living under a bridge where the sewer waters emptied out, along with around 2,500 other addicted men, for much of the 24 years of his addiction.

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This is the state of many people in Afghanistan and the surrounding nations, where drug addicts are rejected by families and shamed by their communities. Qasim, however, was found by workers from a treatment centre who have given him help and hope. He has been free from addiction for over 4 years and now works as a guard at one of the treatment centers.

Drug addiction is a growing problem in Afghanistan, which is the world’s largest producer of opium. The problem is growing among women and children also, who live inpoverty, conflict, and hopelessness.

How to Pray

• Pray for more workers to serve and bring hope to addicts in Afghanistan who have very little chance of ever hearing the Good News. (Romans 5:5)
• For healing from the deep bonds of shame that keep many of these people, who are beloved of God, bound in the chains of addiction. (Psalm 34:18)
• For safety for those who are helping and serving such a needy population in dangerous circumstances across this region. (Psalm 91:1-2)