crystal meth in Iraq, particularly among the country’s poorest and most heavily populated areas.
“The number of drug cases across the country has seen a steady increase,” Kamel said.
Some members of parliament maintain it is too early to tell whether Iraq will transition into a drug-producing country, but noted that recent drug arrests hint toward a change in the country’s drug industry. Sabah al-Saadi, a member of the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, told Al-Monitor that it was fair to say a drug industry was being launched in Iraq, despite reports on its drug manufacturing that he felt were exaggerated.
“The number of drug dealers increased each year after 2003, while the spread of IS (Islamic State) in Iraq increases the chances of local production should the consumption […] of drugs remain high,” al-Saadi said. “This could encourage smugglers to start manufacturing inside the country.”
Local impact
The rise of meth production inside Iraq’s borders would have a particularly harmful impact on the country where access to drug treatment already remains low.
Chaos, violence and corruption have run rampant through Iraq since the United States removed Saddam Hussein from power in 2003. That correlates with the Ministry of Health’s reports that the stress of low employment, poor living conditions, instability and violence contribute to growing substance abuse in the country.
These issues have created more psychological and economic problems in Iraq, in addition to more cases of conditions like depression.
The U.S. State Department also reports a severe shortage of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers in Iraq that are trained to treat those with substance use disorder.
Basra-based psychiatrist Aqeel Al-Sabagh is one of those resources. He informed the Iraq Press Agency early last year that his mental health center was unable to aid the developing abuse of meth among Basra’s young people. His patient overflow is sent to the Ibn Rushd Psychiatry & Addiction Hospital in Baghdad – Iraq’s only drug treatment facility – which can house a total of 74 patients.
Al-Sabagh called on government officials to provide a specialized mental health center to combat drug abuse, but his pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Iraqi officials instead intend to nix drug production at the source by cracking down on meth trafficking and production. The Ministry of Interior proposed the formation of a new panel, comprised of the country’s security and government officials, to reduce domestic manufacturing of meth and imports of the ingredients used to make it.
Al-Sabagh called on government officials to provide a specialized mental health center to combat drug abuse, but his pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
Iraqi officials instead intend to nix drug production at the source by cracking down on meth trafficking and production. The Ministry of Interior proposed the formation of a new panel, comprised of the country’s security and government officials, to reduce domestic manufacturing of meth and imports of the ingredients used to make it, according to Al Ghad Press.
Author: Danielle Woodward
Danielle Woodward is a contributor to Addiction Now. She worked for the Arizona Republic as a copy editor and producer, and currently covers business news in Michigan's northern region for the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Much of her coverage of the region explores its own issues with drug abuse and addiction. Contact Danielle at daniellew@drugaddictionnow.com
