Hospitals in Baghdad are reporting that the incidence of drug abuse among Iraqis in on the rise.
According to a report in Seattle PI, prescription drug abuse among Iraqis exposed to the violence of the occupation is outstripping even alcoholism as a primary addiction.
“Illegal narcotics are available everywhere in Iraq and anyone can get products containing amphetamines and codeine from any pharmacy or sidewalk throughout Iraq,” said Dr. Shaalan Joda al-Abod, the director of a Baghdad psychiatric hospital.
On the other hand the prevalence of alcoholism has plummeted by 30% due to threats by extremist Islamist elements whose ideology forbids contact with any type of alcohol.
90% of patients at the Ibn Rushid hospital (the only hospital in the country set up to treat addictions, are between 18 and 25 years old. Other common attributes of Iraqi addicts are comparative poverty, with many coming from the poorer areas of Baghdad as well as common exposure to violence.
While the story itself is obviously alarming, the interesting facet for the wider world’s interest in drugs is the correlation between drug abuse and poverty and also violence. If the hospitals were taking accurate data for these correlations, perhaps it could be used for the greater good.
For the meantime however, they probably have more pressing concerns.