The Salahaddin University in Erbil hosted the first forum on drug abuse today, Thursday, under the slogan "Towards a Healthy University Community Free of Drugs," with the participation of government officials, academics, and university presidents to discuss ways to limit the spread of this scourge and protect youth and students.
Participants emphasized that combating drug abuse is a shared responsibility that requires enhancing awareness and prevention and providing specialized centers for the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. The Minister of Health in the Kurdistan Region, Saman Barzani, pointed out that the region has a special law on combating drugs and psychoactive substances, No. (1) of 2020, with budgets allocated for projects to control this phenomenon.
The forum discussed the causes of addiction, its stages, and its effects on individuals, families, and society, as well as treatment mechanisms and the need for early assistance.
Statistics presented during the conference showed an increase in the number of arrests in drug-related cases in the region, rising from 1,182 individuals in 2019 to 2,608 individuals in 2025, while 2024 recorded the highest number with 2,728 detained.