Drug Abuse in the Global Village
Drug Abuse in Asia

Iraq

Extent of Drug Abuse

No drug abuse problem was reported by Iraq.

Abuser Characteristics

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

                         Regional Variations

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

Trends

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

Mode of intake

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE

Road accidents and crimes of violence are reported as a result of drug abuse (CMO 1991).

NATIONAL RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE

National Strategy

The Iraqi National Committee for Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is responsible for coordinating treatment programmes for drug dependent abusers.

      Structure of National Drug Control Organs

A central government unit responsible for liaison and coordination of national drug control policy was set up in 1989. It is a specialised unit (no title was indicated) within the Ministry of Interior with representatives from government's departments. The unit deals with all matters reklating to licit and illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER ACTION
TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE INTERNATIONAL
             DRUG CONTROL TREATIES**

                           Treaty adherence

Iraq is party to the 1961 Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol and the 1971 Convention. Regarding accession to the 1988 Convention, an Inter-ministerial Committee was set up in 1988 for the purpose of examining the 1988 Convention and Iraq's accession to it. In 1989, Iraq reported that "final steps" were being taken.

    Measures taken with respect to Drug Control

Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.

Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. No narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances were reported being manufactured in 1989.

Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.

                            Social Measures

Penal Sanctions related to social measures: In 1989, courts applied measures of treatment, education, after-care, rehabilitation or social reintegration for a drug-related offence neither as an alternative nor in addition to conviction or punishment.

Other social measures: None reported.

        DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Primary Prevention

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

In 1991, the Iraqi National Committee for Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse reported treating 14 people for volatile solvents abuse (CMO 1991).

            Detoxification and maintenance programmes are available to alcohol and sedative abusers. Detoxification programmes are about 2-4 weeks long, in in-patient settings, and include follow up visits. Professionals who deal with drug dependent abusers (including doctors, social workers and nurses) are provided with training programmes. Psychologists also deal with abusers, though it is reported that they are not provided with special training (CMO 1991).

            Treatment programmes such as general medical care, detoxification, vocational training and social reintegration are provided for drug dependent abusers who are incarcerated (CMO 1991).

          SUPPLY REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Arrests, Convictions and types of Offences

In 1989, A total of 41 people were arrested for illicit drug trafficking (23 cannabis traffickers, 17 heroin traffickers and 1 opium trafficker) and 8 were reported convicted for illicit cannabis trafficking (U.N. 1989).

                                   Seizures

In 1990, 18 kg of cannabis resin and 3 kg of opium raw and prepared were seized, and in 1991 1.650 kg of morphine was seized (Other 1990, 1991).

                      Supply Source of Drugs

No information reported by 31st December 1993.

References and Notes

** The Legal, Administrative and Other Action Taken to Implement the International Drug Control Treaties section was prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs based on Annual Reports Questionnaires for the years 1988 and 1989.

U.N. 1989 and 1991. Replies to UNDCP Annual Reports Questionnaire. 

CMO 1991. Replies to the questionnaire concerning the seven targets of the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline of Future Activities in Drug Abuse Control.

Other 1990, 1991. Obtained from one or more seizure reports provided by the Government or from other official sources fro the years 1990 and 1991.