STORY: Iraqi medics call for public awareness of drug problem
DATELINE: June 10, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:32
LOCATION: Baghdad
CATEGORY: HEALTH

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital in Baghdad
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ADNAN YASIN, Head of Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED MOHAMMED SHAKER, Psychotherapist at Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital
4. various of Fakher Monther speaking at a drug control symposium

STORYLINE:

For the past two decades, the spread of drugs, particularly among young people, has become one of Iraq's most pressing and intricate issues.

Iraqi medics have emphasized that the Iraqi government's challenges in drug control stem from social instability, a high unemployment rate, poverty, an underdeveloped healthcare system, and public unawareness of the dangers posed by drugs.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): ADNAN YASIN, Head of Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital
"In general, most of the people that come to our hospital range between 20-40 years old, and there are individual cases in less than 20 years old, and other individual cases in more than 40 years old.
Of course, the issue is not without difficulties because of the daily number of drug users that comes to our hospital, but we work as much as possible and we do not neglect anyone.
With regard to our hospital, most of the (addicted) cases that come here, meaning up to 90 percent, are voluntary cases, and the rest of the 10 percent is through the judiciary.
The (drug control) issue needs more propaganda and more advertisements through print and audio means, social media, television channels, radio stations, platforms, and clerics so that there will be increased awareness of drugs and the dangers of drugs."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): AHMED MOHAMMED SHAKER, Psychotherapist at Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital
"As for the issue of stopping demand (on drugs), this is what we can fully control, by raising awareness, programs, and education, in addition to treating diseased cases. If we intensify efforts in this matter, our response to the problem will be more successful."

Importing, exporting, or manufacturing narcotic substances in Iraq is punishable by death or life imprisonment, according to Fakher Monther, head of the media office of the General Directorate of Narcotics Affairs at the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.

He said recently at a drug control symposium that the possession of drugs carries a prison term of 10 to 15 years, while drug users face additional penalties.

However, these severe punishments have proven ineffective in curbing the proliferation of drugs and the activities of traffickers. Monther revealed that the General Directorate of Narcotics Affairs' agents conducted numerous raids in Baghdad and other provinces between November 2022 and May 2023, resulting in the arrest of 8,676 drug dealers and users.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Baghdad.
(XHTV)