Topic: 2024-Substance Abuse
Country: Syrian Arab Republic
Delegate Name: Lauren Barteld
Almost 40 million people are affected by a drug use disorder worldwide. The nation of Syria is not exempt from that number. Their people are also greatly affected by the use of illicit drugs. Syria has seen a significant rise in substance abuse, where both prescription and illicit drugs are easily being accessed. Under Syria’s current regime led by president Bashar al-Assad, they became the leading producer and exporter of a highly addictive drug, Captagon. This led to a huge increase in people struggling with addiction not only within the country but also outside of it, where the drug was being exported to. Like many other countries, Syria has concerns surrounding the topic of substance abuse, and they have made attempts to provide help, such as offering treatment and prevention programs.
Therefore, Syria agrees with getting involved with another organization (such as the WHO) to make a positive impact regarding the major issue of substance abuse. They’re aware that ignoring the issue is not an option and that some type of support has to be offered, so the only question now is how should this support be provided. Syria would be open to other approaches by other countries in the international community, as they want to do as much as possible to take care of their citizens.
In the past, one of Syria’s attempts at aiding the pressing issue of substance abuse was taken on by The Syrian Ministry of Health. They allocated a department to treat people with substance addictions within public hospitals, however the department could only aid a small amount of the mass of people who needed the substance help.
While this solution is partially beneficial and effective, there’s just not enough support to help nearly all of the people struggling with substance abuse. Therefore, Syria along with other countries should assemble and, with the help of the World Health Organization, create a plan to offer these support departments throughout many areas in different countries. These support systems would have to be easily accessible by anyone who needs them, in order to truly be effective. They would be able to provide medical help, support, and education on this topic, which will decrease the number of substance use disorders worldwide.
Works Cited:
State.Gov- Sanctions on Financial Facilitators and Illicit Drug Traffickers Supporting Syria’s Assad Regime, 2024
(www.state.gov)
The Washington Institute- Drug Addiction in Syria: A Decades-Long Disease, 2023
(www.washingtoninstitute.org)
National Institutes of Health- A Comprehensive Overview of Substance Abuse Amongst Syrian Individuals in an Addiction Rehabilitation Center, 2023
(www.nih.gov)
