Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment in Iraq
A couple months ago, we talked about the problem with prescription drug abuse and addiction in Iraq, not just among those who have lost their jobs and loved ones in the war, but also those entrusted to protect the people and restore order to the region: police officers and soldiers on patrol.
Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment in Iraq
To be fair, though some estimate that 30 percent or 1/3 of those in the police force and armed forces take prescription drugs in order to heal after injury, there are measures in place that are attempting to fix the problem.
Dr. Haidari works for the Health Ministry in Iraq. He says that a number of factors should be taken into consideration:
* A campaign is underway to close pharmacies that are illegally dispensing and selling prescription drugs.
* The prescription drug problem among Iraqi soldiers and police is no worse than the prescription drug abuse and addiction among the rest of the population.
* The ministry is opening more prescription drug addiction treatment centers, though right now there is only one hospital in Iraq with a drug and alcohol abuse treatment ward.
Denial Ain’t Just in Egypt
Of course, not surprisingly, if you ask some people in power in Iraq about the problem among police officers and soldiers who are living with prescription drug abuse and addiction, they’ll just say that it doesn’t exist.
General Ahmed al-Khafaji is an official at Interior Ministry concerned with police affairs. He says there is no significant issue with prescription drug abuse in the army: “We don’t accept any kind of addiction within the security forces or our troops from the police.” Those who abuse drugs, he says, are “dismissed from our ministry forever.”
Hiding Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction
Despite Gen. al-Khafaji’s assertion that one shouldn’t judge on a “few” cases, it’s a well known fact within and without the ranks that there is a serious issue with prescription drug abuse in the Iraqi army. Officers know about it, but soldiers don’t take pills right in front of an officer. Or talk about them, either. A number of slang terms exist for soldiers to talk about taking prescription drugs, buying them, locating them, et cetera.
A local pharmacist says that though he’s been arrested three times for dispensing prescription drugs illegally, he has avoided prosecution with bribes. He says, “I don’t deal with strangers unless they come through my known network. I have some people who distribute the drugs, and they are well-trusted people. I have other customers who take large amounts of drugs, and they come in from time to time or I deliver it to them in specific locations.”
The Stigma Against Prescription Drug Rehab
Just like in the United States, many who struggle with prescription drug addiction want to avoid the negative stigma attached and negative repercussions for their issues with prescription drugs and opt out of prescription drug rehab. The nature of prescription drug addiction is such that many in America start taking them medically and ultimately find themselves with an addiction issue that they never asked for.
If you are struggling with prescription drug addiction, you can keep your prescription drug addiction treatment anonymous. Contact The Canyon for more information.
Tags: prescription drug abuse, Prescription Drug Addiction, prescription drug rehab
If you like this post subscribe to the feed or subscribe by Email