The Spread of the Drug Phenomenon in Iraq and Its Social Implications

Abstract

This research addresses a highly significant issue, not only within Iraq but also at the regional and Arab levels: the phenomenon of drug proliferation. The problem of drug abuse in Iraq began after the political change in 2003, when Iraq transitioned from a country nearly free of drugs to one where drug use and addiction have spread, in addition to becoming a key transit point for drug trafficking in the region. The factors contributing to the spread of drugs in Iraq are numerous and complex, and their impacts cannot be confined to a single framework, as they are interrelated across security, economic, health, social, and psychological domains. This interconnectedness explains the involvement of multiple official agencies tasked with combating drugs in Iraq since 2017. However, the social aspect remains the primary gateway for the spread of drugs in Iraq, which is the focus of this study.

     Keywords: Iraqi drugs, social influences