"Rapid Rise: Afghanistan Defies Taliban's Narcotics Ban, Emerges as Top Meth Producer"

Afghanistan has become the world's fastest-growing producer of methamphetamine, according to a report from the United Nations drug agency. Despite the Taliban's ban on narcotics, the country's meth production has surged, posing a significant threat to national and regional health and security. Meth in Afghanistan is primarily made from legally available substances or extracted from the ephedra plant, which grows in the wild. The rise in meth seizures within the country suggests increased production, but the exact value and domestic usage of Afghanistan's meth supply remain unknown. Meth production in Afghanistan offers advantages over heroin or cocaine production, as it does not require land and can be conducted in mobile and hidden labs. The Taliban claims to have taken measures to crack down on drug activities, but the impact on meth supplies is yet to be assessed. The country's economic downturn, along with drought and other hardships, has driven people into poverty, hunger, and addiction.