Why Do Young People Resort to Drugs: The Actual Situation of the Crisis, and the Illusion of Solutions

Dr. Rasool M. Mohammed, University of Baghdad- College of Arts

• Youth and drugs: A cautionary introduction:

As it is known to us that crime, as a concept as it has a function or a negative impact, has a function and a positive impact as well. Its positive function is that it makes society feel that it suffers from a disease or a defect in one of the functions, or members of the societal body, just as pain or high body temperature makes a person feel ill. There is no human being who does not feel pain or illness, and as a result, there is no society without crime. The French sociologist (Emile Durkheim) referred to this fact in his book: (The Rules of Method in Sociology)[1], crime is a normal phenomenon, yet he wasn’t advertising or promoting crime, but rather, he implied that the continued existence of crime – in its various forms – since the dawn of time, means that it performs a function and that this function is represented in certain expressions, including an aspect related to the nature of the crime from its scene, motives, and the circumstances of its occurrence. The other important aspect is that when a person commits an act, often believes that this act is a kind of necessary measure (as a solution), or it is a necessary (deed) to relieve the pressures of a situation or dilemma. A person burdened with worries and problems doesn’t always think of suicide, but often looks for (alternatives) to reach a suitable solution to temporarily get out of a predicament or a problem, although sometimes certain that this solution is not realistic, to begin with.Sometimes, some people commit some actions that constitute a solution from their point of view. But in fact, it is just a temporary escape from a difficult reality, for example, people who consume alcoholic drinks and intoxicants when they are under pressure of a situation that they are unable to face, are found to be looking for other ways to escape the pressures of that situation, yet this “solution” is nothing more than an illusion. But as soon as they wake up the next day, they find that they are still in the same predicament and that all that happened is that an intoxicant or a drug exerted an effect on certain areas of the brain that led to forgetfulness or visualize positive things without having a real presence in reality.

When drugs are consumed, consumers might risk committing a crime, or at least they deviate from a moral and ethical norm that is accepted by society: taking drugs is “haram” or “shameful”, or by legal means, illegal. Of course, there are exceptions that should not be forgotten, including that some subcultures encourage the use of certain types of drugs to treat certain conditions, or as part of certain spiritual customs and rituals[2]. Rather, it may go beyond political goals, and as part of social and political upbringing, and one of the closest examples is the Hashashin movement (Order of Assassins), in Arab history. Just as specialists report that some of the terrorists who blow themselves up with suicide operations, were drugged. Whether this is true or not, the result is the same: drugs reduce or weaken a person’s mental ability to act properly in accordance with society’s standards, regardless of whether those standards are correct or not. The relationship between drugs and culture may be strong, as in some societies, or in some historical stages. History tells us that man has known drugs since the early ages, which goes back to the Stone Age when some tribes used them in religious rituals or to treat some diseases such as joint pain. This relationship is becoming clearer in societies such as Yemen and Egypt in the Arab world and their relationship to (Khat and Hashish), and to Western America and its relationship to (Tobacco and Marijuana), where these narcotic substances have a daily presence in the lives of many individuals in those societies[3].

In light of the foregoing, we can say that the situation in Iraqi society is very different, as there is no evidence in the traditional (conservative) Iraqi culture that encourages the use of drugs. Rather, the Iraqis look with suspicion and sarcasm toward (drug abusers) and may turn a blind eye to those who drink alcohol, but they do not turn a blind eye to those who use drugs. But with all that, we proceed from the same point from which we started, which is: A person consumes drugs because they satisfy a specific need that pressures him/her. Regardless of whether that gratification is real or illusory, we will explain this in the following pages. Accordingly, the intensity of drug demand varies according to the severity of the crisis. (And consequently, the severity of the need) faced by the individual.

                  In this study, we will focus on a set of objectives, including:

This study aims to identify:

• Understand the phenomenon of drug abuse.
• Introduction to narcotics and their types.
• Identifying the forms of abuse.
• Identifying the harmful effects of narcotics on young people.
• Discovering the reasons behind youth addiction.

 

• First: What Are Narcotics? What is addiction? And what is the status of it?

         Drug addiction is one of the dangerous practices that can afflict societies and threaten the future of young people in those societies, as it robs them of their minds and masculinity, as well as robs them of their humanity, and as a result, robs them of their responsible presence and effective contribution to building and progressing their societies. Addiction is the consumption of a certain thing every certain period and according to certain amounts, and with the passage of days it becomes necessary for the body, otherwise its absence will cause an imbalance in some of the body’s functions. Many people believe that drugs are only one type, or the way they are consumed is similar, or that their effects are the same, or at least close. In fact, there are several types of drugs, some of which are used by the individual alone, and some of them do not have an effect if they are not consumed as a group, such as: (marijuana). The effects of a drug such as (khat) differ from the effects of another drug such as (heroin), and so with the rest of the types, as their effects and severity vary according to their type.

Narcotics in terms of their nature and composition: They are plant or chemical substances that have a mental and physical effect on those who consume them, causing the body to become lethargic and inactive, paralyzing activity, inhibiting the mind, and leading to a state of addiction and getting used to it.

Narcotics: It is the plural of the word Narcotic, which in the language causes numbness, apathy, weakness, and laziness. Narcotics are idiomatically a stimulant or analgesics, and most laws do not define the narcotic substance, but the narcotic substances are included in tables attached to the law. While some laws went to mention the drug, which is attached to the substance[4]. Addiction is the repeated use of psychoactive substances, which leads to a psychological and sometimes organic state. The users are controlled by a compulsive desire that forces them to try to obtain the desired drug at any cost.

From the above, we conclude that drug addiction is the regular use of narcotic substances such as cannabis, hallucinogenic tablets, and others, whose amounts increase with the increase in the stamina of the addicted person, as the body’s movement and activity become insanely dependent on consuming them. The spread of drugs is due to many reasons, most of which are social, moral, and religious. As well as the problem of unemployment, especially among young people, the poor investment of leisure time in a good and proper manner, and the increasing gap between parents and their offspring due to the decline in the space for meaningful and constructive dialogue among them and the loss of advice and sound reference by young people from their parents, and between teachers and their students, which makes them feel a kind of marginalization and exclusion. Of course, such a negative feeling does not lead to positive results. Especially in light of the current conditions witnessed by our Iraqi society that suffers insecurity, and the escalation of criminal and terrorist acts. The lack of places dedicated to spending free time in cultural, scientific, and recreational forums such as cinemas, galleries, and sports stadiums, in which young people can invest their time properly, devote their energies, and develop their talents.

Also, globalization and the global tide, of soft and hidden wars, have their negative and dangerous impact on the activation and promotion of the degeneration and disintegration of values, because of what globalization has produced from attempts to spread the values of corruption and vice in Arab and Islamic societies, and the call for the so-called values of liberation and liberalism. In addition to what is broadcast by some satellite channels and some websites, which are not without veiled calls for these deviant values, by promoting such acts. This pushes some of the financially incapable youth – due to the stressful living conditions – away from marriage and search for what makes them forget their pains and hopes, and ignites their feelings and instincts, so they turn to ways of corruption and addiction.

The problem of drug abuse is one of the most serious social problems, as the drug trade comes in the third most important, wide, and most dangerous place in the global trade sector, namely:

1. Oil trade.
2. Arms trade.
3. Drug trade.

The drug trade imposes high costs on countries, as it is an illegal trade and takes exorbitant amounts of money. According to United Nations reports, the drug trade represents – as we have just mentioned – the third place among global trade and economic activities.About 120 billion dollars are laundered annually from this trade in international financial markets and through mega banks[5]. The danger of the spread of drugs lies in the fact that it is more among the youth groups, as the scientist Wolf, a member of the International Narcotics Committee at the United Nations, states that the number of drug users in the world is more than 300 million, most of which are young people[6]. This, of course, constitutes a bitter reality and a cause for concern, as we know that young people are the future of nations.

• Second: Drugs and Iraqi Youth:

         In the past, Iraqi society was considered one of the “clean” societies free of drugs, as the crime rate in general constituted 7%, most of which were crimes of car theft, theft of state funds, and premeditated murder (for revenge and honor killing), As well as abstaining from compulsory military service at the time. The percentage of drug crimes in it constitutes 0.03% of the total crime in the country. The field of drug crime was at the level of commercial circulation and smuggling through its transit from Iran to Saudi Arabia and the countries of the Arab Gulf. As for the rate of abuse, it was not a percentage at all, except for some addicts of Valium pills. According to statistical reports. Iraq was the country in which the least amount of narcotics was seized during 1993, as it did not exceed 42 kilograms and 760 grams of hashish and 237 grams of heroin. Noting that these drugs are not for local use, but the purpose of trafficking and smuggling for a total value estimated roughly five billion three hundred million dollars[7].

         However, the conditions that the Iraqi society witnessed, especially after 1990, the invasion of Kuwait, and the consequent matters, such as the sanctions imposed on it from the economic blockade, and placing Iraq under Chapter VII – concerning rogue states. Then came the events of 2003, the most severe of which was the occupation of Iraq by the U.S. and allies, and the terrorism and successive crises that resulted from that occupation. Which made the Iraqis live in a state of loss of living stability, and complex social crises, which were reflected in all aspects of their lives. Perhaps at the forefront of all this is the low purchasing power, due to the erosion of the value of the national currency, the meager income, and the high rate of inflation. Which made the citizens live in a state of loss and wandering.

         Therefore, Iraqi society witnessed many forms of crimes and deviant behaviors of which the Iraqi society had no precedent or knowledge. However, talks about the extent of drug spread remained largely limited, and officials from the Domestic Security Forces often prided themselves in their conferences that Iraqi society is relatively clean of drugs.

         These conditions receded and we began to notice that the number of drug users in Iraqi society is increasing. This clearly exacerbated this phenomenon, and there are reasons for this change of course.

• Third: Classification of Narcotics: according to their source:

1. Natural drugs: They are derived from plants whose leaves, flowers, or fruits contain narcotic substances.
2. Semi-Synthetic drugs: They are often manufactured from the first type (natural plants).
3. Synthetic drugs: They consist of synthetic materials, which do not contain any kind of natural materials.

In terms of their effects, they are classified into[8]:

1. Drugs that cause apathy and euphoria such as opium and its derivatives such as morphine, heroin, and cocaine.
2. Hallucinogenic drugs: such as cannabis, belladonna, and mescaline.
3. Medicinal drugs (anesthetic drugs): They are sedatives and painkillers that are prescribed for some special cases: such as Procaine, Lidocaine, and Tramadol. Including what causes sleep and anesthesia together, such as Chloroform.

The important thing here is to point out that one of the reasons for the spread of a particular drug in a particular society depends on many variables, perhaps foremost of which is[9]:

• The accessibility: how easy a drug is to get (ease of its entry into the community).
• The price: how cheap a drug is, the ease of buying and obtaining it.
• Having it deeply rooted in the culture, or previous social experience. For example, the Egyptians know drugs such as “Tiryak”[10] and “Hashish”, while the Iraqis know some light types such as (Suwaika[11], but they did not know about cocaine or heroin) due to their high prices and the difficulty of obtaining them. While we find it more prevalent in Western countries. Many of the southern countries are witnessing the spread of certain types of drugs, perhaps at the forefront of which is hashish. We find this in countries such as Iran, Egypt, and Lebanon. Most abusers, however, tend to take more than one drug at the same time, for many reasons, including:
• Unavailability of a particular drug, due to tight restrictions.
• Ease of obtaining some drugs but not others.
• High prices.
• Experimentation and curiosity.
• To cause multiplier effects.

This phenomenon spreads among the youth segment: Some of them consume more than one substance at a time, to increase the effectiveness of what they are accustomed to, or to reduce the effect of a substance by taking another that has an opposite effect, such as the abuse of sleeping pills that are used at night, then stimulants in the morning to remove the feeling of laziness and drowsiness. Among the patterns, of mixing drugs that have been observed among those who frequently visit psychiatric hospitals, alcohol is being mixed with hypnotics and sleeping pills, inhaling of adhesives (glue), hashish, cough medicine, Doloxene, and Somadril, a drug that contains a substance that causes muscles to relax[12].

Iraqi society in general – especially youth – is subjected to a major attack from multiple directions, including – most importantly – narcotics. This is no less dangerous than terrorism, as it aims to consolidate the values of degeneration and moral decay among young people and expose them to loss and diaspora. So that they are not able to build society, and distract them from confronting intrusive foreign threats, which aim at undermining the Arab Muslim personality and obliterating its existence. The Arab countries have tried to confront these dangers through joint collective action. It was represented in the establishment of a Council of Arab Interior Ministers, and a Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs. As well as the adoption of the Arab Convention to Combat Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in 1994, whose preamble emphasized the importance and gravity of this problem.

In the Arab Convention to Combat Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, the Unified Arab Table of Narcotic Substances was prepared in 1993 and the provisions of that agreement were attached. It is noted that this agreement comes within the framework of strengthening and supplementing the measures stipulated in the International Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961, as amended by the 1973 Protocol, and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988[13]. With all these international measures, the problem of drug abuse is growing, the circle of trafficking in it is expanding, and the opportunities for its manufacture even in small laboratories increased. As well as the continuation of money laundering operations resulting from it.

It seems that the prevalence of drug abuse is consistent with the wave of hostility to Islam and religious faith in general. It is noticeable today that the spread of drugs and advocacy for them are in harmony with currents and calls based on human organ trading, the permissibility of sex, cheap songs, and gambling. Without a doubt, destroying the youth’s faith in God (Exalted be He) and destroying their religious faith is an attempt by the forces of evil and global arrogance – America and its demonic camp – to make Arab youth in general and Muslims, in particular, to be exposed and infiltrated from all these social diseases, especially drugs. In this regard, we can refer to the following evidence that drugs in Iraq have become an important issue on which public attention is based. One of the matters that threaten the safety and human security of society, as indicated by the points below:

• The interest of the Iraqi government and senior leaders in this issue – the danger of drugs – by forming national committees and issuing orders to them.
• The interest of the National Crisis Cell and the establishment of a drug and psychotropic substances file.
• Expanding the scope and powers of the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, to become the General Directorate for Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, under Law No. 50 of 2017.
• Expansion of interest in various scientific disciplines and fields, the most important of which are: (sociology, psychology, law, medical studies…etc.). In addition to a large number of scientific conferences, workshops, and seminars: the most important of which are:

1. Completion and preparation of scientific research and scientific studies. As well as master’s theses and doctoral theses. Researcher’s study: Afrah Jassem Muhammad Al-Azzawi, drug abuse, and hallucinogenic drugs, (unpublished master’s thesis submitted to the Department of Sociology / College of Arts / University of Baghdad).
2. The scientific symposium was organized by the Biotechnology Research Center at Al-Nahrain University.
3. The scientific symposium was organized by the Elites Academic Foundation in cooperation with the Elites Forum in Baghdad.
4. Scientific symposium organized by the Iraqi Scientific Center in Baghdad.
5. Scientific workshop organized by Al-Bayan Center in Baghdad.
6. Preparing an extensive scientific study of “housing institutions for the homeless” done by the researchers Dr. Karim Mohamed Hamza (may he rest in peace) and Dr. Adnan Yassin. which included important implicit references to drug use.
7. Widening the circle of press interest through the investigations and news published in local newspapers and magazines about the activity of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior in pursuing and arresting drug dealers and smugglers or seizing quantities of narcotics. Or educational writings in this regard to raise the awareness of citizens and warn them of the consequences of abuse and its dangers.

• Important field notes:

1. The spread of the supply and circulation of narcotic pills of all kinds in some regions, and the high demand for them.
2. Non-compliance by stores and pharmacies with the instructions that the drug should not be dispensed without an approved prescription. Especially with regard to the disbursement of sedative and sleeping medicinal substances.
3. Reviewing cases of young people addicted to certain types of drugs. Especially (Keef pills) and cannabis.

Some areas – especially in the city of Baghdad – have become infested with drugs, which are sold openly, in Al-Bataween and Bab Al-Sharqi areas in downtown Baghdad. Narcotics, sleeping pills, and Keef pills are publicly displayed on pavements. There are big traders to supply these materials to the country. The warehouses located in some areas of Baghdad, such as Bab al-Sharqi and al-Bataween, as well as some areas in a number of southern and central governorates, supply most parts of Baghdad, and even their services may extend to other areas of the rest of the Iraqi governorates, especially the northern ones.

Crime, prostitution, and homelessness are intertwined in this region, as well as the abuse and addiction of intoxicants and alcoholic beverages… and others. One can also make important field observations about traditional areas in Baghdad, such as Al-Murabaa and Al-Maidan, as well as crowded areas characterized by social anonymity, such as some markets and public transportation garages.

Through the foregoing, we have the right to ask a question: How did the problem exacerbate within Iraqi society?

To answer this question, we must admit that the answer is very difficult to be an easy and convincing answer at the same time. Ease and palatability may be possible in societies that have lived for many years and suffer from a drug problem. As for a convincing answer, without a doubt, it will be much more difficult than a mere explanation, analysis, or justification. Especially in the case of Iraqi society, which is considered one of the newer societies with this problem. We cannot be satisfied with explaining the presence of drugs in Iraq as part of a regional conspiracy and that Iraq’s involvement in this problem – drugs – is for political purposes.

We also cannot stop by saying that gangs of smugglers and drug dealers took advantage of the weakness and security breakdown left by the US occupation of Iraq after 2003, which helped weaken the laws and the means and mechanisms of law enforcement. In addition to the problem of not controlling the borders in Iraq, which helped to find loopholes and safe passages for the entry of drugs into the country. Likewise, we cannot be satisfied with saying that it was local gangs with specific ties and agendas that worked to spread this dangerous epidemic and harm society and its youth. We must always remember that the supply of drugs of any kind must be matched by a demand for them. Therefore, the national drug control strategy works in two directions: reducing supply and pursuing demand. This means that the causes of the problem can be analyzed in two ways:

• Addressing causes and external factors.
• Elimination of the incubators and narrowing internal gaps.

Given that the investigation of the causes and external factors will lead us to research and scrutinize the political dimensions of the drug problem. Knowing that Iraqi society was classified as a relatively clean society of drugs, especially at the level of circulation and abuse, over the past decades, Iraq did not witness the spread of drugs. It can be said that the foreigners entering to Iraq transferred many of the deviant practices of drug use.

It is not excluded that external forces will work to weaken Iraqi society to achieve certain political goals. Also, the collapse of the Iraqi authority after the occupation, made Iraqi society without immunity and controls, which prompted drug dealers to take advantage of the opportunity.

The most important thing that we must analyze is the long-term situation, which was caused by the occupation, with all that it means, in terms of canceling ministries and departments, expelling thousands of Iraqis, and declining economic activities. Consequently, the decline and lack of job opportunities, the high rates of unemployment and inflation, migration, forced displacement, marginalization, exclusion…etc. all despite the high wages and salaries.

We now have – after all, that we have mentioned – a social problem called drugs, and this problem is complex and intertwined with other problems, and its factors are external and internal.

Perhaps it is useful to point out here that the word (narcotic), may not mean a specific type of commonly used pills, such as (Artane), (Valium) or (Carisoprodol)…etc. It may even mean a material that is readily available, cheap, and easy to obtain. Such as any chemical substance (paint thinner), sniffing burning gasoline from car exhaust, or sniffing Glue and other available materials. Rather, the pills (Artane, for example) are not expensive, but rather cheap, and spread among homeless children, and perhaps the future threatens the danger of their spread among school and university students if it is not put to an end.

The spread of drugs is a strong indication that there is a social problem, what makes it difficult to research that problem and investigate its causes and explore its depths is the general nature of the specificity of that problem – drugs. Some Iraqi families may not care that one of their members is addicted to alcohol, but they are wary of disclosing that one of their members is abusing drugs, even if that individual becomes addicted, so they maintain the secrecy of their treatment (rehab). This may come as a result of fear of legal prosecution. In addition to the family’s fear of social stigma. Health institutions such as (Ibn Rushd Hospital) in Baghdad do not provide explicit data about this problem under the pretext of confidentiality. However, it must be clearly and frankly admitted that we are facing a serious problem that threatens our youth and children and even threatens the future of our society. And that we should do everything possible to find effective solutions. Can we succeed under the current circumstances?

So, why do young people resort to drugs?

There is no doubt that drug users are people in distress who suffer from a certain social situation. They turn to it, thinking that it represents the solution, that is, to get out of the predicament they are in. Those who take drugs are usually of two types (in terms of willingness and desire):

• Self-driven: who resorts to it on their own, without any external motive. Rather, the idea comes from their thoughts (the sum of their previous negative experiences), which they draw from a story narrative, T.V., or a real-life scene. This category is relatively small.
• External-driven: The one who resorts to using drugs as a result of external motives (bad friends, getting involved in a situation, compulsion, gambling, and challenge). This category is more common.

As for its abuse. We can categorize this according to the conditions that drive drug abuse – metaphorical division to understand the condition – into[14]:

• Negative abusers: a person who resorts to drugs out of arrogance and luxury, under the illusion that there is a solution and salvation in them – mostly from the affluent class. they resort to it as a result of the state of boredom, routine, and laziness in which they are in, so they try it in vain. They often consume rare and expensive drugs, direct effect on their health and appearance may not be evident.
• Positive abusers: They are people who suffer from hardship and social problems that are greater than their ability. This makes them feel in a state of despair, so they resort to drugs under the illusion that there is a solution and salvation for them. And this type often takes frivolous and cheap drugs that are more dangerous and affect their health.

We believe that the origin of drug addiction is the result of abnormal stress, agitation, and anxiety. This may be caused by a specific predicament or a particular social problem, narrowing the horizon of rational and logical thinking, and young people find themselves lacking the ability to solve those problems. Thus, they find an alternative solution by resorting to drugs.

The truth of the matter is that drugs provide – for the troubled one who is approaching them – a model and a credential for a solution. Not everyone can accept the use of drugs and then fall into the clutches of habit, or addiction. Some of those who were addicted to drugs were indeed drawn to it by the influence of friends or “bad people”, who portrayed to them that taking the drug makes them enjoy the ecstasy of masculinity and perfection. Even in such a case, they believed that drugs performed a function – the illusion of solutions.

Every human society has its own peculiarity, and in our society, abuse appears as an attempt by the abuser to deal with a specific situation. It is important to note that several variables must be taken into consideration when analyzing the reasons why young people are tempted to use drugs, the most important of which are[15]:

1. Males are more likely to abuse than females for many reasons. Among them is that the social life of males is more open. And that social controls – especially family – appear to be more severe on females compared to males.
2. Urban youth are more likely to abuse than rural youth. The issue here relates to the extent of drug availability, the pattern of socialization, the strength of social control, and the weak pressures of life on the rural youth compared to the city youth.
3. It can be said that the economic variable plays a role in determining the type of drug. Young people from the upper classes can buy expensive drugs such as heroin. As for the young people from the poor classes, they can only get cheap types like Hashish, and some of them may have to smell gasoline, adhesive, thinner, or consume some types of cheap pills[16].
4. The form of use – individually, a group – differs somewhat from one drug to another. The case with marijuana joints, which are transmitted from one person to another in the same group. The feeling of numbness is reinforced by the collective feelings that pervade the group. However, other drugs, such as cocaine, can be taken individually rather than with a group.

Young people’s resort to drug abuse increases during major societal crises, especially during the period that the French sociologist Émile Durkheim called “Anomie”, or a state of standards’ loss[17].

For the French sociologist, Émile Durkheim, “Anomie” refers to a state of disorder that afflicts the order, or is a state of de-regulations, resulting from economic crises or family disasters[18]. It can be benefited here from the classification of responses presented by the scientist ‘Lucerol’ in 1951 to describe the state of “Anomie”, namely[19]:

1. A person’s loss of goals.
2. Feeling that life is not worth living. which leads to a loss of meaning of goals and social norms.
3. The unpredictability of the future. which leads to an unstable social order.
4. The feeling of an individual, that help cannot be obtained from colleagues or society in general.
5. Community leaders express and reveal their lack of concern for the individual’s needs.

In light of the criticisms leveled at Merton’s theory. Including describing it as an atomic theory – that is, it focuses on the responses of individuals – more than its focus on groups, and that it reflects the reality of American society, that it does not address the issue of the distribution of wealth, power, conflict, and so on. The jurisprudence about the concept of anomie and its related results are contained and justified.

Durkheim linked anomie with economic crises. He also linked anomie with family disintegration or anti-marriage[20].

We can find strong relationships between anomie and all forms of deterioration in the social order. Especially when there is an unfair distribution of power or when there are long and armed wars and conflicts.

Through the foregoing and after our review of some studies and literature related to the subject of our study – drugs – we can summarize some of the reasons that may constitute negative motives for young people towards drug abuse, including:

• The legal and regulatory factors represented by the weakness of laws and the inactivation of the application of those laws (often turning a blind eye) to many deviant phenomena, which are the first step in the ways of deviation such as vagrancy, beggary, delinquency…etc. which weakens those laws and robs them of the ability to influence.
• The negative role of some public social media, such as what is presented in the media and some satellite channels that encourage violence, drug abuse, deviations of all kinds, a decline in feelings of reassurance, the prevalence of individual spirit and relationships based on interests.
• Personal factors with individual characteristics, such as failure in school, or symptoms of some disorders and psychological diseases such as anxiety and depression, including weak religious faith.
• Family factors such as the absence of the father, the disintegration of the family due to desertion or divorce, the presence of addicts in the family, the residence of families in an endemic area (Slums), or the invalidity of the family’s atmosphere, when problems prevail and stifle tension, so the young man does not find in it what makes him feel comfortable and reassured.
• Economic factors, particularly poverty, deprivation, unemployment, and little or no income.
• The weakness of the school and educational systems and their collapse. Especially after the role of the teacher became limited to abstract teaching without paying attention to the educational goals of the system, which exposes students to dropouts[21].

Today, Iraqi youth are facing dangerous situations. In addition to the loss of security and the prevalence and depth of feelings of insecurity and uncertainty, many unknown or known parties are trying to put drugs within the reach of young people who are exhausted by unemployment, anxiety, depression, various pressures, and the lack of opportunities to get a decent life.

The available statistics confirm the fact that Iraqi society is going through a dangerous phase. The former Minister of Planning indicated that unemployment constitutes nearly 50% of the labor force, according to the classification of the World Bank[22].

The unemployment rate among those with a high school certificate has reached 37%. One of the reports noted that women head 11% of families in Iraq due to the absence of the father, his death, or due divorce. This means that there is a clear case of family disintegration, or at least the existence of a family environment that does not provide the minimum level of reassurance and psychological comfort. It is known that unemployment leads to a high burden of dependency.

The Ministry of Planning estimated the poverty rate in Iraq at 23%. The consequences of unemployment and poverty are very serious, including theft, various forms of crime, drug addiction, and others[23].

In general, the large number of pressures that individuals are exposed to in their daily lives may cause pain as well as a sense of uselessness. To get rid of these worries, some individuals resorted to alcohol and drugs to escape from facing their personal problems, which they were unable to find successful solutions to. The more severe these conditions become, the greater the demand for abuse. In fact, the intensification of life crises, accompanied by the reduction of social support sources, as well as the lack of places of entertainment and leisure for young people to spend their spare time, may lead to an increase in the use of these substances. There is real evidence indicating that a society that is going through severe life crises consumes greater quantities of intoxicants and drugs[24].

A field study on drug abuse showed that 72.5% of drug abusers had economic problems, 23.6% had social problems, and 3.9% had psychological problems.

• Preventive measures and treatment:

To address this phenomenon. Many social centers and NGOs have called for the creation of free public facilities for young people to practice their favorite sports and participate in creativity, and scientific and cultural innovation through clubs specialized in many vital fields, provided that the necessary facilities are available.

However, in my opinion, the most important addiction treatment is a psychological treatment, which begins with drawing close to God Almighty through all kinds of acts of worship and reading the Holy Qur’an. Our Prophet Muhammad (God’s Blessings Be Upon Him and His Family) said: “O young men, those among you who can support a wife should marry, for it restrains eyes (from casting evil glances) and preserves one from immorality; but he who cannot afford It should observe fast for it is a means of controlling the sexual desire.” Or as he stated, peace be upon him, recommended fasting to the youth, which is not valid unless the person stays away from obscenity, immorality, and disobedience.

Before we define or suggest these procedures, the following facts must be confirmed:

1. Any action in any sphere of society’s life is inseparable from others. Preventive and curative measures should constitute an integrated, undivided whole.
2. These procedures are not specific to any particular ministry or department. Rather, it is an expression of the shared responsibility of all state institutions and society.
3. These procedures should be monitored and evaluated constantly.

Community prevention measures:

         All of these are institutional procedures with continuity based on legal and regulatory rules:

1. The religious institution – the guiding role, deepening the religious faith.
2. The Educational Institution – the pedagogical role – is indicative by showing the dangers of drugs to society – and conducting scientific studies.
3. The Family Institution – directing socialization towards the formation of anti-drug tendencies.
4. The Media Institution – Awareness and the formation of an anti-drug culture.
5. The Legal Institution – creating systems and laws to protect society, regulate the use of these materials and control illegal trade with them.
6. The Economic Institution – creating job opportunities and ridding the youth of unemployment to provide a decent standard of living.

The Treatment Procedure:

1. The development of current medical institutions – such as Ibn Rushd Hospital.
2. Finding new and innovative techniques in treatment.
3. Putting more effort to discover cases early.

We hope that this study will be useful to serve the youth.

The sources mentioned in the study:

1. Akram Nashat Ibrahim. The drug problem in the Arab world, a study in the Journal of Social Studies, issues three and four, 1999 – 2000, Baghdad, House of Wisdom, pg. 4.
2. Review: The paper submitted by Dr. Afaf Abdullah Khalil, to the symposium on drugs between the criminal dimension and the Islamic perspective, organized by the Biotechnology Research Center, Al-Nahrain University, 2005.
3. Afrah Jassim Mohammed Al-Azzawi, Abuse of narcotic pills and hallucinogenic drugs, unpublished master’s thesis, Department of Sociology, College of Arts, 2001, p. 14.
4. Akram Nashaat, previous source, p. 6, and review: for comparison of the annual statistical reports issued by the Arab Office for Drug Affairs.
5. Review: League of Arab States, Department of Social Development, Draft in the Arab Social Report, 1999, (Cairo), p. 216.
6. Akram Nashaat, previous source, p. 6.
7. Refer to: Dr. Karim Muhammad Hamza, The Economic Siege and the Problem of Poverty, a study submitted to the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, March 1999, p. 6.
8. There are great examples: Al-Sa’a newspaper, Issue 24, July 23, 2003, pg 4.

Al-Zaman Newspaper, Issue 2116, May 22, 2005, p. 33.

Al-Zaman Newspaper: Issue 2108, May 12, 2005, p. 3.

Many other newspapers referred to issues and news related to the spread of drugs on the sideroads.

9. Samia Muhammad Jaber, Social Thought (Beirut, Arab House of Sciences, 1989), p. 258.
10. The same source, p. 264 et seq.
11. Review, for example, Afrah Jassim Muhammad Al-Azzawi, a previous source.
12. Also review: Waad Al-Amir, Violence in the means of communication, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sociology Department, 2003.
13. Salah Abdel-Mutaal, Social Change and Crime in Arab Societies, (Cairo, Wahba Library, 1980), p. 175 et seq.
14. Mahmoud Shamal Hassan, Life pressures and the requirements of modernity, research in the Journal of Social Studies, Issue Six, Summer 2000, Baghdad, House of Wisdom, p. 76 et seq.

[1]Dr. Mahmoud Shamal Hassan, Life pressures and the requirements of modernity, research in the Journal of Social Studies, Issue Six, Summer 2000, Baghdad, House of Wisdom, p. 76 et seq.

[2] Dr. Nahida Abdel Karim Hafez, “why do young people resort to drugs”, research submitted to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, unpublished, p. 3.

[3] Major General Ahmed Amin Al-Hadqa, The Arab International Symposium: On the Phenomenon of Drug Abuse, Arab International Organization for Social Defense, Cairo, 1971, p. 7.

[4] Dr. Akram Nashat Ibrahim. The drug problem in the Arab world, a study in the Journal of Social Studies, issues three and four, 1999 – 2000, Baghdad, House of Wisdom, pg. 4.

[5] Article published on the internet, dated 12/10/2013, on the website: www.egynews.net p.7.

[6] Dr. Saad Al-Maghraby, The phenomenon of drug abuse: its definition and dimensions, the Arab International Symposium: On the phenomenon of drug abuse, the Arab International Organization for Social Defense, Cairo, 1971, p. 25.

[7] Dr. Akram Nashat Ibrahim. The drug problem in the Arab world, a study in the Journal of Social Studies, issues three and four, 1999 – 2000, Baghdad, House of Wisdom, pg. 4.

[8] Dr. Afaf Abdullah Khalil, to the symposium on drugs between the criminal dimension and the Islamic perspective, organized by the Biotechnology Research Center, Al-Nahrain University, 2005.

[9] Dr. Nahida Abdel Karim Hafez, why do young people resort to drugs, previous source, p. 11.

[10] An illegal drug made from Opium.

[11] Suwaika is a drug that contains a concentrated amount of nicotine, in addition to other toxic substances.

[12] Afrah Jassim Mohammed Al-Azzawi, Abuse of narcotic pills and hallucinogenic drugs, unpublished master’s thesis, Department of Sociology, College of Arts, 2001, p. 14.

[13] Dr. Nahida Abdel Karim Hafez, why do young people resort to drugs, previous source, p. 15.

[14] for clarification. We used the words (negative and positive), otherwise, the use and demand for drugs are all wrong, negative, and rejected by Sharia, Norms, and laws.

[15] Dr. Nahida Abdel Karim Hafez / Dr. Rasoul Mutlaq Muhammad, “Drugs: The Pestilence of the Age”, joint scientific research delivered at the symposium of the Iraqi Scientific Center, Baghdad, p. 21.

[16] in Baghdad. A homeless child or an addicted youth can get paint thinner sniff for 1000 IQD (or by purchasing a box of white ink or adhesive). They can get one pill of the so-called “Keef” pills with 2000 IQD. All of these cheap types are available as opposed to the more expensive ones that can be relatively hard to come by.

[17] The term Anomie is derived from the Greek word (Anomia) which means the absence of laws, and Émile Durkheim had used the term in an attempt to explain suicide after he used it in his book (The Division of Labour in Society) in 1893.

[18] Dr. Samia Muhammad Jaber, Social Thought (Beirut, Arab House of Sciences, 1989), p. 258.

[19] Dr. Rasool M. Mohammed, The Social Cost of Conflict in Crisis Societies: A field study in the city of Baghdad, from the publications of the Iraqi Scientific Center / Baghdad, from Dar Al-Baseer, Lebanon 2012, p. 75.

[20] Dr. Samia Muhammad Jaber, Social Thought, Beirut, Arab House of Sciences, 1989, p. 264 et seq.

[21] Review Afrah Jassim’s thesis on drugs, a previously mentioned source.

[22] Also review: Waad Al-Amir, Violence in the means of communication, unpublished PhD thesis, Sociology Department, 2003.

[23] Dr. Salah Abdel-Mutaal, Social Change and Crime in Arab Societies, (Cairo, Wahba Library, 1980), p. 175 et seq.

[24] Dr. Mahmoud Shamal Hassan, Life pressures and the requirements of modernity, research in the Journal of Social Studies, Issue Six, Summer 2000, Baghdad, House of Wisdom, p. 76 et seq.