As the Taliban’s severe restrictions on women’s lives in Afghanistan continue, the prevalence of mental health disorders is increasing, leading to a growing reliance on sleeping pills. Sources in several cities, particularly Herat, Kabul, and Mazar-i-Sharif, told Independent Persian that many women and girls, under intense psychological and social pressure, have turned to sleeping pills as their only escape for a few moments of peace.
Zohra Peyman, a second-year psychology student at Herat University, was among the thousands of female students barred from education after the Taliban's leader banned women from attending university. For the past three years, she has struggled with the pain of separation from her classmates, the loss of her academic future, and deep despair about what lies ahead. Recently, she sought medical help for anxiety and insomnia. Speaking to Independent Persian, she said her doctor prescribed Trimipramine (brand name Truptanul), an antidepressant. After taking the medication, Zohra experienced a deep and restful sleep for the first time since her anxiety and insomnia began.
The next day, she noticed that three pills were missing from her pack, even though she had only taken one the previous night. After speaking with her family members, she discovered that her sister, having heard about the drug’s effects on sleep and anxiety relief, had taken some as well.
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Zohra first realized how common sleeping pill use had become among young Afghan women when she went into town with a friend. Her friend walked into a pharmacy and bought several packs of sleeping pills without a doctor’s prescription. When Zohra asked her why, her friend admitted that she had become dependent on them because she was unable to sleep properly.
Soon, Zohra noticed that many people in her social circle were also using these medications. She explained, "When I started taking these pills, not only did my sister join me, but one of my friends also asked me to use my prescription to get her some."
According to Zohra, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and psychological distress are the most common issues faced by Afghan women and girls. In such circumstances, medication is often the only option available to help them find temporary relief and sleep peacefully for a few hours.
Describing her experience with antidepressants and sleeping pills, she said: "About 15 to 20 minutes after taking the pill, I fall asleep and stay asleep for up to 12 hours in complete peace. Right now, nothing else gives me this kind of relief."
The High Cost of Medical Treatment
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghan women have faced not only severe restrictions on their daily lives but also economic hardships, including rising food prices, unemployment, and shrinking family incomes. These challenges have added to their psychological distress.
Zohra explained that many women and girls struggling with mental health issues cannot openly discuss their problems with family members due to social stigma. "The idea that a young woman is suffering from psychological distress and cannot sleep properly is still a taboo in many families. It could lead to negative assumptions and social consequences for the girl," she said.
In some cases, girls who confided in their families about their mental health struggles were met with dismissive or even judgmental reactions, such as, "Maybe you’re in love."
Seeking medical treatment also comes with social risks. Zohra pointed out that visiting a doctor could raise suspicions among family members, especially in conservative households. Some fear that if a single woman is known to be taking medication for anxiety or depression, it might negatively impact her prospects for marriage. "Many men in Afghan families do not understand these issues, and they assume that a woman seeking medical help for mental health problems is somehow 'unfit' for marriage," she said.
Beyond social stigma, the financial burden of medical treatment is another major barrier. A single doctor's visit costs at least 250 Afghanis ($3.50), while prescribed medications can cost up to 1,000 Afghanis ($14) per month—an expense many families simply cannot afford. Given the need for long-term treatment, most women abandon medical care and instead resort to purchasing antidepressants and sleeping pills over the counter, without a prescription.
Fatima (a pseudonym), a doctor in Kabul, confirmed that drugs such as Trimipramine, Clonazepam, Diazepam, and Ginkgo Biloba are among the most commonly used by women over 17 and middle-aged women. These medications are readily available in many pharmacies without a prescription.
Fatima explained that a pack of 12 pills costs between 20 and 50 Afghanis ($0.30–$0.70), making them an affordable and easily accessible solution for women who have nowhere else to turn. In a country where women are confined to their homes with little to no social freedom, these medications have become their only refuge.
However, she warned of the long-term effects of continuous use: rapid weight gain, digestive issues, allergic reactions, drug tolerance (requiring higher doses over time), cognitive impairment, and reduced mental alertness.
Despite knowing the risks, Zohra said she has no alternative. After taking antidepressants and sleeping pills for several months, she feels better. However, she acknowledged, "If I experience anxiety and insomnia again, I have no choice but to take the medication. There is no other option."
According to Zohra, Afghan women live in conditions that feel like house arrest. In this state of captivity, they desperately seek moments of peace, and for many, sleeping pills are the only available means to achieve that.
Taliban’s Restrictions and Women’s Loss of Freedom
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban has imposed its strict interpretation of Islamic law, eliminating nearly all freedoms for women. The group's reclusive leader has issued more than 70 decrees, systematically stripping Afghan women and girls of their most basic rights.
Women have been banned from education, employment, and public spaces, leaving them isolated and with no future prospects. This oppressive environment has fueled a mental health crisis, forcing many Afghan women to turn to medication as a last resort for comfort.
Despite the Taliban’s claims of "stability" in Afghanistan, the reality for Afghan women tells a different story—one of suffocation, despair, and a desperate search for any means of survival.
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