(A.S.), a 19-year-old young man from Duhok, did not complete his middle school education. At a young age, he was drawn into the world of drugs, influenced by friends he encountered during a time when his parents were unaware of his changing path, despite their persistent but unsuccessful efforts to steer him back toward his studies.
Reflecting on this chapter of his life, he gestures toward his arms, adorned with tattoos, and continues: “My street friends led me into the trap of drugs. They exploited my curiosity and recklessness, encouraging me to try them. I experimented with various substances—crystal, hashish, and marijuana using them for three years, with no one else knowing, except for my friends who shared my addiction.”
In the beginning, he would purchase a gram of drugs from his friends for thirty thousand Iraqi dinars. Within a short time, his consumption escalated to “one and a half grams.” With a somber tone, he reflects, “It didn’t take long before I became fully addicted. To fund my habit, my family would give me money, and at times, I resorted to stealing drugs from my friends.”
In an attempt to secure more funds, (A.S.) devised a new method: he began encouraging other friends to experiment with drugs. He would buy the substances at a lower price, then sell them at a markup, pocketing the difference to sustain his own drug use. He recalls, “On occasion, the dealers would deceive me, selling me adulterated substances—essentially sugar mixed with a small amount of drugs. This often led to heated confrontations and arguments with them.”
After three years of escalating addiction, his physical and mental health began to deteriorate. He describes his decline with a sense of regret: “I lost several teeth and began acting erratically, almost as if I were losing my sanity. I was constantly agitated, sleeping very little, and my family suffered greatly from my condition. It took them some time to comprehend the full picture of what was happening.”
The young man (A.S.) feels a deep sense of regret, yet there is also a feeling of gratitude, as he was given a second chance at a normal life. This turning point came after his arrest and imprisonment for five months in 2023. He reflects, “I learned my lesson there. I received treatment and support from doctors and specialists, and my family stood by me throughout the entire ordeal.”
The Spread of Drugs
According to statistics from the security agencies in the Kurdistan Region’s provinces (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok) covering the period from 2019 to 2023, which were submitted to the United Nations, there has been a consistent and alarming rise in the quantities of drugs seized, including hashish, opium, heroin, crystal meth, and captagon. In 2023 alone, authorities seized over two tons and 708 kilograms of drugs, a stark increase compared to just 206 kilograms in 2019.
Colonel Salam Abdel Khaleq, the spokesperson for the Asayish (Security) Institution of the Kurdistan Region, confirms that the first seven months of 2024 saw a further escalation in drug trafficking activities, with nearly two tons of drugs seized, marking a notable surge compared to 2023.
In the judiciary, drug-related cases have reached unprecedented levels. The investigation revealed a sharp increase in the number of criminal and misdemeanor cases related to drugs since 2013. In the Planning and Statistics Department of the Duhok Appeals Court, a marked rise in cases of drug consumption and trafficking has been recorded. In 2013, only 22 cases were filed in Duhok province—eight related to drug trafficking and 14 to drug use. By contrast, in the first eight months of 2024 alone, the same court reviewed 426 cases, with 152 cases concerning drug trafficking and 274 related to drug consumption.
Dr. Mohammed Ihsan, a former Minister of Human Rights in the Kurdistan Region (1999), characterizes the current drug situation in the region as “the worst in Kurdish history.” He emphasizes that the issue has transcended the realm of ordinary street dealers and impoverished addicts, now involving “individuals wielding significant power and influence.”
He reflected that, during his time as a minister, nearly 25 years ago, the total number of drug-related cases across the entire region was no more than 52.
Dr. Ihsan issued a stern warning against the practice of “punishing drug users while shielding drug traffickers due to tribal or personal interests, effectively allowing them to evade the law.” He refrained from providing further specifics on whether influential figures in the region are offering protection to drug dealers, yet his comments suggest the existence of powerful forces undermining efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Renger Jamal Sheikho, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Legal and Political Research at the Faculty of Law at Duhok University, reported that the center’s team conducted an extensive survey in October 2023, titled “The Drug Phenomenon: Motivations, Risks, and Approaches to Confrontation.” The survey included 172 inmates convicted of drug-related offenses.
According to the survey’s findings, 91% of the inmates were male, with 51.5% of them aged between 19 and 25 years. Additionally, 54% of the respondents were unmarried, while 35% were married. In terms of the types of drugs they used before their arrest and conviction, heroin ranked first, followed by crystal meth in second place.
Sheikho points out that the majority of the respondents had a low level of education. He also notes that 63% of them resided in rural areas, while 27.1% lived in Duhok city, the capital of Duhok Governorate. He emphasizes, “The vast majority live under difficult economic conditions, with most earning less than 300,000 Iraqi dinars per month.”
Regarding the motivations behind drug use among the survey participants, Sheikho explains that peer influence was the most significant factor, cited by 49.4% of the respondents, followed by unemployment at 28%. The survey also revealed that 42.4% of the participants had suffered from psychological issues as a result of drug use, in addition to facing various financial and social problems.
From addiction to suicide
“He poured white petrol on himself and then set himself on fire, only to die moments later,” is how Jamil (43 years old, pseudonym), from Dohuk, describes the last moments of his only son’s life (17 years old), who was addicted to drugs.
He says bitterly: “It happened in early 2024 and I wasn’t home to stop him.” He recounts how his son was a diligent and outstanding student in his early elementary years, but everything changed when “I got a divorce from his mother, and my mother, who is his grandmother, took over his upbringing. He was in the fifth grade at the time. She loved him and showered him with money without realizing that she was unintentionally pushing him toward the abyss, making him a spoiled, unemployed young man.”
He points out that his son’s drug addiction problems began when he associated with bad company at an early age. He recalls that his son was regularly using crystal meth tablets on a daily basis and would return home in an altered, unconscious state.
With deep anguish, he continues: “When one of his friends told me that he was using drugs, I didn’t hesitate to take the difficult step. I handed him over to the police and requested that they not release him until he had recovered. This was when he was between 15 and 16 years old.” He then sent him to a specialized child psychiatric center, where the therapists informed him that his son had started using drugs at an alarmingly young age.
Despite all his efforts, the father was unable to distance his son from his addicted friends. The son was detained for around 29 days, just weeks before his tragic suicide. “After he was released, I tried to protect him from drugs and sought to find a suitable job for him.”
He recalls, “He was in love with a girl and asked me to help him propose to her. I wanted to use the opportunity to assist him, but I set the condition that he must quit drugs first. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that.”
The father takes a deep breath and says, “It’s too late now, anyway. I live with a heavy sense of guilt and disappointment because I couldn’t save him. But I advise everyone to take better care of raising their children, not allowing them to leave school or associate with bad company, so that what happened to my son doesn’t happen again.”
Dr. Nawzad Sami Ahmed, a specialist in mental health and the coordinator of mental health at the Duhok Health Directorate, states: “We only record the drug addicts who are seen in the consultation and receive treatment at Azadi Hospital, while the statistics do not include those who visit private clinics.”
He further confirms that the recorded statistics show a growing trend in drug abuse within the region: “Six years ago, we would receive one addict approximately per week, but now we see at least two to three addicts daily in the consultation. It’s worth noting that not all cases are registered at Azadi Hospital, especially those involving women, who are treated at home rather than being admitted to the hospital.”
Dr. Nawzad warns that the most widely spread and increasingly prevalent drugs in the region are “heroin and crystal meth,” with the age groups most frequently visiting consultation centers ranging between “16 and 25 years, with some rare cases of individuals as young as 14 years old.”
Drawing from his personal experience with addicts and his insights into their conditions, Dr. Nawzad explains: “With the emergence of drug distribution networks, abandoned neighborhoods and alleys in Duhok, particularly at night, have become primary distribution points, with only limited use of schools for this purpose.”
He believes that unemployment, social problems, and mental health issues, such as severe depression, drive some individuals to use drugs “as a means of escaping their struggles.” He notes that addicts are three times more likely to suffer from mental health disorders compared to non-addicts.
He also cautions that “some types of drugs induce hallucinations and negative thoughts, leading to problems in personal relationships, such as delusions of infidelity.”
Regarding the stages of drug addiction treatment, Dr. Nawzad explains that the process typically takes between one to two years. “The first stage involves detoxifying the body, which usually takes about 7 to 10 days in a hospital, during which substitute medications are used. The second stage focuses on psychological treatment, lasting from two to three months. The third stage is the rehabilitation process, which helps the addict reintegrate into society, and this phase can last from several months to a year.”
Dr. Nawzad, the mental health coordinator at the Duhok Health Directorate, highlights several challenges in addressing the spread of drug addiction, one of which is the lack of a specialized center for treating addicts in Duhok. “There is a government center in Shaqlawa, Erbil, and we have a decision to open a similar center in Duhok, but it has not been launched yet. Currently, psychiatrists are sent to prisons and rehabilitation centers to provide treatment and psychological support to incarcerated addicts.”
he is also emphasized that ‘local laws categorize drug users as suspects, whereas they are regarded in the medical field as patients. This distinction creates significant apprehension among addicts about seeking medical help, as they fear that clinics may be connected to law enforcement agencies, which obstructs access to treatment.
Furthermore, the societal stigma surrounding addiction exacerbates the issue, as individuals are reluctant to disclose their condition due to the negative judgment they face from society. In addition, the healthcare system is hampered by a shortage of specialized centers and trained personnel, limiting its capacity to adequately accommodate patients.’
Engineer Delshad Ezzedin Musa, the Director of the Food Control and Safety Department at the Health Prevention Affairs Directorate in Duhok, stated that specialized teams from his department conduct both regular and surprise inspections of the 244 cafes scattered across Duhok Governorate, particularly following reports regarding the distribution of drugs in some of these establishments alongside hookah use.”
He stated, “We take samples to conduct bacterial tests,” and added, “Only one case involving alcohol has been recorded, where it was detected in the hookah of a cafe following a complaint we received. However, no cases related to drugs have been recorded thus far.” He acknowledged that his department lacks the necessary resources, such as equipment and tools, to conduct drug testing.
Drugs have reached the mosques
Imam and Friday sermon speaker, Bahjat Ramadan Saleh, from one of the Old Town, recounts how he dedicates a significant portion of his Friday sermons to warning the community about the grave dangers of drugs. He recalls witnessing, one day while on his way to the mosque for the dawn prayer, a group of young men using drugs near the mosque’s wall: “The sight was deeply painful, so I immediately reported it to the security authorities. Unfortunately, this was not the only incident of its kind.”
Economic Crisis
Dr. Hashem Zebari, an Assistant Professor at the College of Administration and Economics at Duhok University, describes what he refers to as the drug crisis in the Kurdistan region: “It has escalated since 2014 due to the financial and economic crisis, as well as the terrorist events that swept the region.” He explains that the psychological and social pressures associated with unemployment increase the likelihood of drug use among young people. He adds, “Poverty resulting from unemployment and the lack of economic opportunities has greatly contributed to the spread of drugs, making drug use a consequence of these circumstances.”
Zebari links the unemployment crisis to the absence of “a clear vision or plan from the regional government to address this dilemma.” He lists several economic problems, including “the mismatch between available job opportunities and academic disciplines, competition with foreign labor, ineffective government policies, reduced spending on projects, and the private sector’s inability to absorb new graduates.”
The academic expresses concern about the impact of addicts’ spending on the local economy, as funds are diverted towards purchasing drugs rather than supporting their families. “This leads to the smuggling of money, especially since drug trafficking networks targeting youth are active in neighboring countries. Furthermore, this spending increases poverty. Addicts often resort to stealing from their families, selling their belongings, or accumulating debts.”
Social and Psychological Impacts
Majed Hussein Taha, Head of the Inmates Unit at the Women and Juvenile Reform Center in Duhok Governorate and a social researcher, believes that the social causes behind the drug phenomenon are linked to the conditions within the family. He explains, “When a family member loses a sense of happiness and cannot find it with their parents or siblings, feeling neglected, they turn to external alternatives. These may include spending time with friends in cafes, getting absorbed in social media, or, in some cases, resorting to drug use, believing it will compensate for the happiness they’ve lost. Some are drawn to it simply out of a desire to imitate others.”
Based on his experiences and visits to several families whose members have struggled with addiction, Majed points out that the environment in which addicts live plays a significant role in the spread of drugs. He says, “The areas where these families reside are often remote, and poverty and unemployment among the youth are widespread—two factors that exacerbate the problem of drug abuse.”
According to the social researcher’s information, drugs are often given to addicts for free at the start of their addiction to habituate them and ensure they return to purchase more. He notes, “The poor addicts find themselves in a difficult situation because they lack the money to buy drugs, so they are forced to steal in order to obtain it and meet their needs.”
Bendaar Rashid Mohammed, a psychotherapist at the Directorate of Reform, Juveniles, and Women in Duhok, has called for the establishment of a specialized psychological center for treating addicts, with the necessary medications and trained staff: “Awareness sessions and lectures alone are not enough; the increase in the number of drug users must be met with a corresponding increase in the number of psychiatrists specializing in addiction treatment.”
He also highlights another challenge, which is the lack of a classification system for inmates based on the severity of their addiction and the level of danger they pose, along with the shortage of adequate space and multiple halls in rehabilitation centers to accommodate the large number of inmates. He confirms, “The section designated for juveniles can only accommodate 150 detainees and convicts.”
Regarding this issue, he says: “This overcrowding leads to negative consequences. Legally, the number of inmates in a single hall should not exceed seven people,” and he urges the government to support the construction of a specialized center for treating drug addicts: “As patients, not as penalized prisoners.”
Laws and Drugs
Attorney and legal advisor Frest Ezzat Abdullah, from the Duhok Court of Appeals, explains that the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law No. (1) of 2020, which is in effect in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, classifies those involved in drug-related crimes into “users and traffickers.”
He points out that drug users are prosecuted under Article (30), which stipulates a prison sentence of no less than one year and no more than three years, along with a fine ranging from 5 million to 10 million dinars, while also allowing the judge discretionary authority based on the circumstances of the defendant, including their age and criminal record.
Regarding drug possession, the lawyer explains that if the court determines that the purpose of the possession is personal use, the defendant is treated as a user and subjected to the same penalties.
As for the penalty for drug trafficking, the lawyer explains that it is governed by the provisions of Article (26/First) of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law, which stipulates a sentence of life imprisonment or a fixed-term prison sentence, in addition to a fine ranging from 30 million to 90 million dinars.
He adds, however, that “judges often issue sentences for traffickers ranging from three to five years, depending on the quantity of drugs seized, their criminal record, and their personal circumstances.”
The lawyer expresses concern over the increasing number of drug-related cases he encounters in his daily work and believes that border crossings “need advanced devices and strict oversight to detect and seize drugs by the relevant authorities.” He emphasizes the necessity of providing advanced laboratory equipment to facilitate the detection of narcotic substances.
He links the worsening drug problem to rising rates of criminal offenses, such as theft and assault, as well as increased rates of divorce and traffic accidents, calling for the imposition of stricter penalties on drug traffickers to help reduce these issues.
Zakho under the Grip of Drugs
Zakho, located in the northern part of Duhok Governorate on the border with Turkey, is the second-largest town in the province, with a population of 348,000. It is just 10 kilometers from the Ibrahim Khalil border post with Turkey and 25 kilometers from the Iraq-Syria border. Due to its geographical location, drug trafficking activities are active in this city, and there has been a noticeable increase in drug use, especially among the youth, in recent years.
Civil activist Ahmed Nouri dedicates part of his daily time to raising awareness in Zakho about the dangers of drug use. He expresses his deep concern about the situation, stating: “Zakho’s location plays a crucial role in the influx of drugs, as it serves as a crossing point between Syria and Turkey.”
He mentions that drug users in the city often utilize specific places as hideouts, such as “the banks of the Khabur River and the surrounding farms, in addition to exploiting unfinished buildings and uninhabited areas.” He adds that, during a visit to the Zakho police station, he received information about finding five bodies of drug users along the riverbanks and inside abandoned buildings within just one month.
Nouri believes that the situation in Zakho regarding drugs has become extremely dangerous: “The threat has crossed the red lines, especially in certain neighborhoods and alleys.” He further warns, saying, “While there may have been two people using drugs in the past, there are now serious concerns that the impact could spread to the entire neighborhood.”
Some names have been hidden or kept pseudonyms at the request of their owners
The investigation was completed under the supervision of the NIRIJ Investigative Reporting Network as part of the Midan Fellowship grant
Investigative Reports
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