The Syrian war has ended, but another conflict is only beginning — a conflict over the future of its citizens and the direction the country will take in the coming years. And at the heart of this conflict is the issue of drug addiction.
Although the Syrian Civil War officially ended in 2018, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime still faces major challenges, and drug addiction is no small part of it. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Syrians struggle with substance abuse. The drugs of choice differ across different regions of the country, but opium and cannabis are the two most commonly abused. Many Syrians turn to these drugs as an escape from the grim reality of the war-torn country.
The issue is being compounded by the fact that drug dealers are exploiting the current circumstances to sell their products. The breakdown of the government’s authority, combined with a lack of oversight over the local economy, has created an environment where dealers can operate with impunity. In addition, Syria’s current economic crisis has forced many desperate people into drugs as a means for survival.
The situation has reached such a level that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released a report warning of the dire consequences of drugs in Syria. Experts predict that the rise in drug use will bring with it an increase in crime, violence, and mental health disorders, as well as a breakdown in public health services.
The government is working to combat the problem by conducting public education campaigns, establishing drug addiction treatment centers, and cracking down on drug dealers. Unfortunately, these efforts have yet to produce any tangible results. To make matters worse, the Syrian government is facing international criticism for not doing enough to tackle the issue.
The Syrian drug problem is a complex and multifaceted issue that will require a concerted effort on the part of the government to resolve. Until then, it will continue to cast a dark shadow over Assad’s attempts at rehabilitation and the hopes of a better future for the Syrian people.
