Drug abuse among children on the rise
BAGHDAD, 9 May 2007 (IRIN) - The increase in drug abuse among children and youths in Iraq is worrying specialists who say continued violence is responsible for the rising number of users - something that is compounded by the easy availability of different narcotics.
 Photo: IRIN  |
| Specialists say the main reason for the rise in the number of children using illicit drugs has been the psychological effects of violence |
“Investigations by local NGOs showed an increase, compared to the beginning of this year, of at least 20 percent in drug abuse among children and youth,” said Ali Mussawi, president of the local NGO Keeping Children Alive (KCA).
“In our preliminary reports, released in February 2007, there were more cases of addiction among street children but today the numbers have changed and there are more addicted children from the middle class,” Mussawi added.
Mussawi said a survey was undertaken by five local NGOs working on children’s issues. They interviewed 1,535 people - children and their families - in central and southern areas of the country. The interviewees were from the areas most affected by drugs.
According to Mussawi the main reason for the rise in the number of children and young people using illicit drugs has been the psychological effects of violence. It is violence, specialists say, which has led to children finding easy ways to forget about the loss of their loved ones.
