Determinants and Prospects for the Development of the Opiate Economy in Afghanistan

Drug production and trafficking, and the related development of criminal groups, are among the most serious problems of the modern world. Issues related to the drug business appear when the institutions and the economic and social systems of the state disintegrate. An example of this is Afghanistan, which has recently become the world’s largest producer of opiates. The growing production of opiates has had negative consequences for Afghan society, causing various social problems, and for the international community, strengthening organized criminal groups involved in drug trafficking around the world. The aim of this study is to look for the most important factors causing the rapid increase in opiate cultivation in Afghanistan, and to assess how the Taliban’s return to power will affect the drug business. The study was carried out through an analysis of available scientific literature, including statistical studies, as well as various compilation documents.