Drug
Abuse in the Global Village
TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE
Extent
of Drug Abuse: Cannabis
is reported the most abused drug in Syria. Annual abuse is estimated at 2,041
abusers (U.N. 1992).
Heroin is the next
most prevalent drug abused with annual abuse estimated at 1,040 abusers (U.N.
1992).
Other drugs abused
include cocaine (87 cases), amphetamines (75 cases), opiates (25 cases) and
sedatives (12 cases) (U.N. 1992).
Abuser
Characteristics: Most
abusers are between 20-45 years of age, with the exception of cannabis and
amphetamine abusers who are reported of different ages (U.N. 1992).Heroin abuse
is reported more common among the middle class population, and cocaine abuse is
more frequent among the wealthy (U.N. 1990).
Regional Variations: Heroin and cocaine abuse is reported more
common in the urban areas, while cannabis abuse is more frequent in rural areas
and underdeveloped environments (U.N. 1990).
Trends: Some increase was reported in the abuse of
amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and cocaine, in 1989. Amphetamine abuse was
reported stable in 1992, and cocaine abuse stabilized over the 1990-1992
period. Some increase was reported in heroin abuse in 1990 and 1992. Some
decrease was reported in the abuse of inhalants in 1989, followed by some
increase in 1990 and 1992. Opium abuse has remained stable over the 1989-1992
period, with some decrease reported in 1991. Cannabis abuse has remained stable
over the 1989-1992 period (U.N. 1898-1992).
Mode of
intake:
Heroin and opiate-type codeine are both
injected and sniffed. Opium and amphetamines are ingested and cocaine is
sniffed (U.N. 1990, 1992).
CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE
Ten cases of HIV
infection and two cases of AIDS were reported in 1992 (U.N. 1992).
NATIONAL
RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE
National
Strategy:
The National Commission on Narcotic
Drugs, comprising representatives from many ministries, is responsible for
providing preventive and curative plans related to narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substance abuse (U.N. 1992).
Treaty adherence: Syria is party to the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs,
as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic
Substances, and the 1988 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances.
Primary
Prevention:
Basic training in drug education is
part of the education programme of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health
workers and social workers. Further training is also part of the programmes for
doctors and pharmacists (U.N. 1992). Drug education is part of the school
curricula (grades 2 and 3) although the percentage enrolled is very small. No
preventive programmes and activities were reported as available for any target
groups (CMO 1991).
Treatment
and Rehabilitation: No
treatment programmes were reported as available for the drug dependent abusers.
Treatment is available, however, to the drug abusers in prisons (7.25 per cent
of the population). All prisons provide general medical care, counselling on
drugs and drug related diseases, and some prisons also provide, vocational
training and general education (CMO 1991).
Arrests,
Convictions and types of Offences: A total of 1,556 people were arrested for illicit drug possession (82
per cent cannabis possession) and 1,634 people were arrested for illicit drug
trafficking (70 per cent cannabis traffickers) (U.N. 1989).
Supply Source of
Drugs: No information reported by 31st December 1993.
References and notes
U.N., 1989-1992.
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 1991. Obtained
from one or more seizure reports provided by the Government or from other
official sources for the year 1991.
** The Legal,
Administrative and Other Action Taken to Implement the International Drug
Control Treaties section was not available by 15th January 1994.