Sohrab Rahmaty makes a strong case for changing the strategy to control illicit opium production in Afghanistan:
….In the 1970s, Turkey was a major source of illicit opium for the drug trade. In just four years, and with the help of an American-led initiative, Turkey was able to transform its illegal opium trade into a viable and profitable legal industry. The Turkish government instituted a program that offered to license farmers’ crops for medical purposes, resulting in Turkey becoming a leader in the opiates-based medical field. There is no reason why Afghanistan should not pursue a similar path….
The cost of establishing a legitimate industry would be a fraction of the cost of “containment” of the illicit industry and would also strengthen central government control over outlying regions.
Read more at A Solution for Afghanistan’s Opium Crisis? | The Diplomat.