Amid calls for unifying efforts to counter this phenomenon | Drug abusers in Al-Raqqah between addiction and need for treatment
Robberies and incidents of hijacking are increasing a day after another in neighbourhoods in Al-Raqqah city which is under the control of the Autonomous Administration, because of the increasing number of drug abusers.
Speaking to SOHR, a mental health therapist known by her initials as N. A. said, “for the past two years, we have received many cases suffering from psychological and nervous disorder, mostly drug abusers who used to take ‘ice,’ aka ‘crystal meth’ or ‘H-bose,’ which is made by Iranians and was promoted in Syria two years ago. ‘Crystal meth’ is the most dangerous and highly addictive substance, where abusers prefer to take it, despite its high prices, as it gives them false and temporary sense of awareness and happiness, as well as increasing sexual ability. After the dose wears off, abusers start to suffer from nervous reactions and sever outbursts of anger, as their bodies are in need for new doses. Accordingly, the addicts start to break everything, beat everyone and cry, and many of them turn to aggressive habits, so abusers starts to harm themselves or commit suicide.”
A 48-year-old woman known as A. M. who is the mother of a drug abuser in Al-Raqqah told SOHR “my 22 –year-old son, Mohamed, was associated with bad friends and addicted drugs. After he had started to work for a media outlet in Al-Raqqah nearly a year ago, I started to noticed many changes in his personality, including excessive nervousness about simple matters. I also noticed the disappear of several things from the house, such as the gas cylinder, money and jewellery. After monitoring his movements and asking him several times, I found out that he addicted H-bose. His father and I, with the help of a friend, persuaded him to start treatment in a drug-treatment centre in Al-Kasarat area in the south of Al-Raqqah. He stayed in the centre for nearly two months until he was cured, but the first path was very difficult. The cost of treatment was very high, as it reached nearly 1,000 USD a month.”
SOHR activists have confirmed that drug business in the region is run by networks of dealers who offer free doses young people, so that they addict illicit drugs, before they lure them to major dealers and merchants who dominate those young people and decide their fate, where young girls are exploited and pushed to engage in organized prostitution and young men may involve in kidnaps and killings.
In SOHR interview with Sheikh Hewaidi Shalash Al-Mahjam, the elder of Al-Afadelah tribe, said “we are in a real battle against the collapse of social and moral values of many young people, who have no guilt but to addict illicit drugs. This is the responsibility of all people of Al-Raqqah. Saving our children is our responsibility towards society. Drug-treatment centres should be established and supported to provide their services for free, where the cost of services at private hospitals are not affordable for everyone.” Sheikh Hewaidi has held all official institutes and organisations responsible for the increasing number of addicts, and he also called for unifying all efforts to preserve the social and humanitarian values.