Nargis, 26,* grew up in Guzara district, Herat province, where poverty shaped much of her childhood. At 15, she married a much older man and soon gave birth to her first son, Jawid. She had hoped motherhood would bring stability but life remained difficult.

When she became pregnant again Nargis moved to Kabul to live with her sister, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she found herself in a home where both her sister and brother-in-law were struggling with addiction. Isolated and vulnerable, she soon became addicted herself.

Almost nine months pregnant with a second child and with nowhere to turn, Nargis left her sister’s house and wandered the streets of Kabul. A mobile outreach team, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan, found her and offered help. These teams work in communities to support people battling substance use, providing treatment and care. They convinced Nargis to seek help at a WHO-supported female drug addiction treatment centre (DATC) in Kabul.

The female DATC, which WHO has supported since November 2023 with funding from the European Union (EU), became a turning point in Nargis’s life. The centre provides comprehensive medical services, psychological support and vocational training to help women rebuild their lives.