The 2022 UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ’s World Drug Report disclosed that around 284 million people aged 15-64 used drugs worldwide in 2020, a 26 per cent increase over the previous decade.
According to the report, young people use more drugs, with use levels today in many countries higher than in the previous generation.
In 2007, the World Drug Report highlighted the production and distribution of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, as a worrying trend in the Middle East and North Africa, leading to increased drug abuse and addiction.
Today, many reports suggest that captagon – a brand name for a medicinal product containing the synthetic stimulant fenethylline has become the primary product infiltrating the market. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, customs officials across the region regularly seize drugs bearing the captagon name.
Hashish and khat are also common drugs in the MENA region, while amphetamines are popular.
Recently, the General Secretariat of the Arab Union for the Prevention of Addiction said that drug gangs invest about $1bn annually in drug trade worldwide and that drug dealers target Arab countries, especially the rich.
In light of this, Qatar has stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in developing, preventing, and protecting Arab peoples from threats, including drug and addiction issues.
Addressing the 42nd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs as the Chair, Minister of Social Development and Family H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad noted that Qatar, via its national centres such as the Behavioral Health care Center (Daam) works to prevent youth and those susceptible to addiction, as well as providing treatment and rehabilitation services and conducting survey research on the community.
The session held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League in Cairo saw the signing of the Regional Framework for the Arab States (2023 2028) between the Arab League and the UNODC, launched the Arab Plan for the Prevention and Reduction of the Dangers of Drugs to Arab Society under the title “Towards Effective Handling of the Issue from a Social Perspective.” The Minister called for addressing the drug problem as a multilateral responsibility. She stressed support for political and diplomatic efforts with quick measures to keep pace with the rapid spread of drugs and their new promotion tools to protect children and youth in the educational, entertainment and electronic circles and reach drug-free societies.
