The role of illicit substance use on the development of mental health issues among young adults in Afghanistan: A narrative review.

Abstract

In Afghanistan, the use of illicit substances is an increasing public health issue, especially among young adults (Ayoughi et al., 2012). According to Choi, DiNitto, and Marti (2015), this results in an elevated risk of mental health problems. To respond to the question of what extent illicit drug use contributes to the emergence of mental health problems in young adults in Afghanistan, this dissertation underwent a narrative review to examine the experiences of young adults who use illicit substances and how it impacts their mental health. Peer-reviewed literature on illicit substance abuse in Afghanistan was gathered from three databases, including Pubmed, JSTOR, and Science Direct, and grey literature from organizational websites: UNODC, AREU, and WHO. The findings of this research showed that factors like cultural norms, economic insecurity, conflict, wars, and drug availability influence substance use among young adults in Afghanistan. This study also revealed a link between substance abuse and several poor mental health outcomes, for example, psychosis, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, considerable obstacles, such as a lack of resources, stigma, and political unrest, prevent Afghanistan's healthcare and social support systems from effectively caring for and supporting young adults struggling with substance use and mental health difficulties. Effective treatment and support services, early intervention, harm reduction tactics, and other interventions and techniques have also been identified.