{"id":38770,"date":"2025-07-11T10:53:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T10:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/?p=38770"},"modified":"2025-07-11T10:53:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T10:53:49","slug":"what-strategies-can-syria-employ-to-combat-narcotics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/11\/07\/2025\/what-strategies-can-syria-employ-to-combat-narcotics\/","title":{"rendered":"What Strategies Can Syria Employ to Combat Narcotics?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Despite the fall of the previous Syrian regime, which was often associated with the production and trade of Captagon (fenethylline) in international meetings, the country remains a hub for the production, distribution, and consumption of drugs, according to the latest UN report. This raises questions about how to combat this phenomenon and why it continues, despite the Syrian government&#8217;s commitment to fighting it and disrupting supply chains, which has been demonstrated by the public destruction of large amounts of Captagon that were seized.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Ongoing Security Campaigns and UN Warning<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the latest report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, published on International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26th, the report warned that Syria remains a major center for Captagon, despite the security campaigns launched by the transitional authorities in Syria to combat drugs and arrest dealers, traffickers, and users.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the national anti-drug campaign, the Syrian government has launched security operations that resulted in the seizure of massive quantities of narcotics, including millions of Captagon pills and hundreds of tons of illegal substances. These operations, conducted from the fall of the previous regime until the end of June, are part of ongoing efforts to dry up the sources of illicit trafficking and reduce the spread of this dangerous phenomenon.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Syrian Laws<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Article 43 of Syria\u2019s Narcotics Law of 1993 stipulates that individuals caught possessing drugs for personal use should face temporary imprisonment (from 3 to 15 years) and fines ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 Syrian pounds. The penalty for trafficking drugs is life imprisonment and fines ranging from 1 million to 5 million Syrian pounds. In some cases, those involved in smuggling, manufacturing, or cultivating drugs for trafficking purposes can face the death penalty.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Read also: <a href=\"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/01\/07\/2025\/syrias-chemical-weapons-and-the-hidden-health-crisis\/\">Syria\u2019s Chemical Weapons and the Hidden Health Crisis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syria has a strong legal framework prohibiting the production, trade, and consumption of narcotics. However, in practice, these laws have rarely disrupted the drug trade in the country. In fact, drugs have served as a significant economic source for the previous regime, which turned Syria into a center for the production and trafficking of narcotics, using the drug trade as a weapon that crosses Arab and regional borders.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to American and British reports, 80% of Captagon in the world was exported from Syria during the previous regime. U.S. research centers estimated that the Captagon trade brought billions of dollars annually to the regime and its allies during the years of the Syrian war.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Prevention or Criminalization?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The issue of drug control in Syria is a contentious topic that sparks significant debate within legal and social circles. Dr. Aws Darwish, a law expert, explains in an interview with <b>+963<\/b> that both prevention and criminalization are essential elements in the fight against drugs. However, he notes that modern approaches tend to emphasize prevention as a primary tool to eradicate this phenomenon, thus reducing the need for criminalization and punishment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He continues, saying, &#8220;Criminalization is necessary for enforcing the law and punishing criminals, but prevention is more sustainable and effective in the long term in reducing crime. Prevention aims to address the root causes of crime through social, economic, and educational interventions that seek to improve living conditions, reduce poverty and unemployment, and provide opportunities for education and work.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Darwish also mentions that while Syria\u2019s Narcotics Law No. 2 of 1993, which defines crimes and penalties related to drug trafficking, consumption, and smuggling, is somewhat adequate, it needs some amendments. He emphasizes the importance of strengthening the rule of law and implementing laws effectively to ensure that criminals are held accountable.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to the exceptional circumstances Syria has faced, Darwish insists on the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat the drug phenomenon, one that strikes a balance between prevention and criminalization. He argues that the focus should first be on &#8220;addressing the deep causes of conflict, displacement, poverty, and terrorism, which have greatly contributed to the escalation and spread of the drug problem.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, psychiatrist and addiction specialist Majid Mohammad believes that prevention and treatment should be at the core of anti-drug efforts, as they are more effective in the long run and aim to prevent drug use primarily through education and awareness. He advocates for building strong, healthy communities, raising awareness of the dangers of drugs, and providing supportive environments for youth and families.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Read also: <a href=\"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/28\/06\/2025\/environmental-safety-in-post-conflict-syria\/\">Environmental Safety in Post-Conflict Syria<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added in his interview with <b>+963<\/b> that, &#8220;Focusing on criminalizing users and dealers may have a deterrent effect on some individuals, but it is not enough because it does not address the root causes of addiction or prevent its spread. Addiction is a health issue that requires treatment, prevention, and support, not judgment, punishment, or stigma.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Experiences of Other Countries<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammad references the experiences of some countries that have adopted drug control policies focusing on prevention and treatment rather than criminalization. &#8220;Portugal is one of the first countries to decriminalize drug use and provide health and social care for users instead of punishing them. Switzerland, Uruguay, Canada, and Ghana also take approaches focused on addressing the root causes of drug use and offering support to users, rather than focusing on criminal penalties.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Studies have shown that the policies of these countries have led to a decrease in drug use rates, a reduction in drug-related deaths, and improvements in public health. Mohammad believes this approach should also be implemented in Syria, especially since Syrians are already suffering from insecurity, lack of basic needs, and the ongoing psychological and physical effects of war.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Obstacles and Challenges<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Discussing the obstacles and challenges to implementing prevention and treatment measures, Mohammad notes that &#8220;the lack of security, political instability, economic difficulties, limited financial resources, and a shortage of qualified medical staff in the field of addiction treatment, as well as the weak infrastructure of official institutions and the stigma associated with drug use, pose significant barriers to the implementation of prevention programs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He points out that many successful local initiatives have not been sustained due to a range of challenges, some of which are related to the patients themselves, such as a lack of genuine willingness to continue treatment, the absence of supportive and engaged families, and the inability to involve users in beneficial activities that help them spend their time effectively and reintegrate into society.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is also fragmentation in the efforts of various actors in the prevention field, including the government, NGOs, and international organizations, which leads to duplication of efforts and overlapping responsibilities. According to Mohammad, drug control strategies are not being implemented with the seriousness required.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He adds that drug users in Syria are left to battle addiction without proper care or guidance due to the lack of social and psychological support. There is a pressing need for addiction treatment centers that provide counseling, therapy, and emotional and spiritual support, potentially saving lives before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Darwish concurs, stating, &#8220;Given the current situation in Syria, preventive measures cannot be implemented effectively as the country is still suffering from collapse, instability, and weak security and health monitoring systems. There are no real institutions that give sufficient attention to combating the drug phenomenon, especially after the police force, formerly consisting of academically trained officers specialized in drug control, was dissolved and replaced with unqualified personnel.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Solutions and Recommendations<\/b><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Syrian academic calls for the development of diverse programs tailored to target groups, managed by a specialized, trained team capable of building medical, legal, religious, and community awareness regarding the consequences of drug use.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammad argues that &#8220;To achieve a balanced approach to combating drugs, there should be a comprehensive strategy combining prevention, treatment, and criminalization, with a focus on protecting public health and human rights. This strategy must include providing comprehensive prevention and awareness programs for youth, families, and the wider community about the risks and harms of drugs, creating a supportive family environment, and expanding addiction treatment and rehabilitation services.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He adds that drug education programs should be integrated into school curricula, and civil society organizations should be supported in implementing prevention and awareness programs. Expanding addiction treatment services and applying strict penalties on drug dealers, while considering the social and economic conditions of users, is crucial.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is also an urgent need to provide specialized treatment centers that offer a range of medical, psychological, social, and financial rehabilitation services to help addicts reintegrate into society. The government, according to Mohammad, should halt the flow of raw materials used in Captagon production and fulfill its promises to combat this scourge by creating comprehensive economic and political solutions that improve Syrians\u2019 living conditions and effectively secure borders with neighboring\u00a0countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite the fall of the previous Syrian regime, which was often associated with the production and trade of Captagon (fenethylline) in international meetings, the country remains a hub for the production, distribution, and consumption of drugs, according to the latest UN report. This raises questions about how to combat this phenomenon and why it continues, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":38771,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","single_blog_custom":"0","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"left-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"float","share_float_style":"share-normal","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"g:i a d\/m\/Y","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"1","zoom_button_out_step":"5","zoom_button_in_step":"4","show_post_tag":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"Balancing prevention and punishment in the fight against Captagon and illicit narcotics"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"jnews_post_split":{"post_split":[{"template":"1","tag":"h2","numbering":"asc","mode":"normal","first":"0","enable_toc":"0","toc_type":"normal"}]},"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,380],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[392],"class_list":["post-38770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-slider","category-syria"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Strategies Can Syria Employ to Combat Narcotics? - 963+<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Syria remains a global hub for Captagon. 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