LOWER DIR: Tucked away in the scenic town of Balambat, a small government-run rehabilitation centre has become a lifeline for hundreds drug addicts in the region.

Established by social welfare special education and women empowerment department in 2003 for drug addicts, the centre became functional in 2021 in a rented building in Balambat, Dir Lower. According to officials, the facility has provided free treatment to more than 800 patients, an alarming indicator of the district’s growing drug abuse problem.

The centre offers a structured three-month inpatient programme that includes medical detoxification, psychological therapy and vocational training aimed at reintegrating patients into society.

Locals say that narcotics like crystal meth (ice), heroin and hashish are easily available in Timergara and nearby areas. The ready access to drugs paired with a lack of consistent law enforcement is fuelling a rapid increase in addiction, particularly among youth.

Talking to Dawn at his office, centre rehabilitation officer Nisar Ahmad said that currently, the centre housed 30 patients not only from Lower Dir but also from neighbouring Upper Dir, Chitral and Bajaur districts.

“Each patient’s recovery journey costs the government around Rs200,000,” he said, adding that the centre offered support through a professional team that included a psychologist, psychiatrist, medical officer and a religious scholar.

To strengthen the chances of long-term recovery, the facility also operates a vocational training wing where patients learn trades like tailoring, electrical work, cooking and barbering. The goal is to equip them with practical skills that can help to rebuild their lives once they leave the centre.

Despite these efforts, officials and locals say that without stronger government action to crack down on drug supply chains and make more investment in treatment facilities, the crisis can spiral further out of control.

“The need is urgent and resources are limited. We cannot afford to lose another generation to addiction,” says a local elder.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2025