PM Masrour Barzani highlights tackling drug addiction as 'priority' for the Kurdistan Region
He highlighted the comprehensive damages caused by drug abuse, describing its health, social, economic, and security repercussions as a "dangerous threat" to society. "It is a main factor in weakening our youth and human capital," he added.

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani underscored the government’s commitment to combating the growing drug crisis during a foundation-laying ceremony for a Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Center in Erbil on Sunday.
The project, a collaboration between the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) and the LDS organization, aims to address the escalating drug addiction challenges in the region. "I commend the Barzani Charity Foundation and LDS organization for building this important center," Barzani stated, expressing hope that the facility would be completed on schedule to serve victims of drug addiction.
A Critical Step in Fighting Drug Abuse
Barzani emphasized the strategic importance of the new center, which will provide treatment and rehabilitation for individuals struggling with addiction while raising public awareness about the dangers of drug proliferation. "This center is part of our efforts to help victims and addicts and assist in their rehabilitation and return to normal life," he noted.
He highlighted the comprehensive damages caused by drug abuse, describing its health, social, economic, and security repercussions as a "dangerous threat" to society. "It is a main factor in weakening our youth and human capital," he added.
A Coordinated Government Response
Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has taken extensive measures to combat the drug epidemic, including establishing a high committee with relevant ministries and institutions to tackle the issue. The government has also created a dedicated fund to support the development, rehabilitation, and treatment of drug victims.
While applauding the efforts of the region's security agencies in apprehending drug traffickers, Barzani expressed alarm at the increasing prevalence of the issue. "Very unfortunately, this phenomenon has increased significantly, and we see daily announcements of campaigns arresting groups of traders in the media," he said.
Differentiating Victims from Criminals
Barzani stressed the importance of distinguishing between drug traffickers and those who fall victim to addiction. "We must confront drug mafias and traffickers in the strongest way and give them severe punishment," he said, while advocating for a more compassionate approach to victims, aiming to reintegrate them into society.
A Call to the Federal Government and Society
The Prime Minister called on the Iraqi federal government to take stricter measures against drug traffickers, describing their activities as the "greatest crime" against society. He urged a collective effort involving families, educators, intellectuals, religious leaders, and media outlets to raise awareness and prevent drug abuse, particularly among youth.
Additionally, Barzani encouraged the Ministries of Education and Higher Education to intensify monitoring efforts in schools and universities to prevent the spread of substance abuse.
Gratitude for Support and Collaboration
Barzani extended his gratitude to the LDS organization for its decade-long partnership with the BCF, supporting charitable initiatives in the region. "I hope their support and friendship with the Barzani Charity Foundation continues," he said.
Concluding his speech, Barzani reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling drug addiction and supporting those affected. "Combating drugs is a shared national and moral duty for all of us," he said, urging collective action to "cleanse our society of this dangerous threat."
The Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Center marks a significant step in addressing the drug crisis in the Kurdistan Region, fostering hope for a healthier and more resilient society.
Below is the full speech by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Distinguished attendees
Honored guests
Welcome, good morning.Today we are laying the foundation stone for a very important project, the Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Center. I commend the Barzani Charity Foundation and LDS organization for building this important center, and I hope it will be completed within the specified timeframe and put into service for treating drug victims and addicts.
I want to especially thank the LDS organization, which has been working with the Barzani Charity Foundation for 10 years and has been supportive of their charitable work. I hope their support and friendship with the Barzani Charity Foundation continues.
Combating drugs is a very important issue for the Kurdistan Regional Government, which is why it is working extensively and comprehensively to eradicate and confront this problem that poses a dangerous threat to our society. It causes comprehensive health, social, economic, and security damage in all areas of our lives and is a main factor in weakening our youth and human capital. Therefore, we are working in every way to prevent the further spread of this great threat.
For this purpose, the Kurdistan Regional Government has formed a high committee to combat drugs, which includes several relevant ministries and institutions. A fund has also been established for the development, rehabilitation, and treatment of drug victims and addicts. The construction of this center is part of our efforts to help victims and addicts and assist in their rehabilitation and return to normal life. This center is also an effort to further develop awareness about the dangers, consequences, and disasters of drug proliferation.
There is an important point that we need to discuss and always keep in mind regarding drug control, which is that while we need to confront drug mafias and traffickers in the strongest way and give them severe punishment, we must differentiate between those criminal traders and those who, unfortunately, become victims and are made addicted to drugs for whatever reason.
Here, I should thank the relevant agencies, especially the Kurdistan Region's security agencies, for confronting this dangerous phenomenon. Very unfortunately, this phenomenon has increased significantly, and we see daily announcements of campaigns arresting groups of traders in the media. While the arrest of these individuals is very commendable, we are deeply concerned to see that this phenomenon has spread to such an extent that it has become daily news.
I call on the federal government to take much stricter measures to confront these criminals who trade in human lives, in people's lives, who cause mothers to be deprived of their children's existence, children to be deprived of mother's affection, fathers to be separated from sons, spouses to be separated from each other. This is the greatest crime that a criminal can commit against their society, so we all need to do whatever is necessary through parliament and legislation, through strengthening legal measures, to confront this dangerous phenomenon, so we can cleanse our society of this dangerous phenomenon, this dangerous threat. I request that no excuse remains, neither political position, nor authority, nor power, nothing should become an excuse to overlook these traders who, under any name, have now caused innocent people to become the first victims of this danger.
Whatever is required of the Regional Government, it will do to confront this. On the other hand, we must make every effort with relevant agencies, international organizations, Ministry of Health, Education and other relevant parties, to develop these types of centers and prepare to separate criminals and traders from those who have been affected and unfortunately become victims of this phenomenon, to help the victims, to assist and help these victims, to treat and remove them from this dangerous threat, to do something so these people can once again return to their normal life in society.
Combating drugs is a shared national and moral duty for all of us. We all need to be supportive and backing the government's efforts, from families to educational institutions, academics, intellectuals, religious teachers, media outlets, and through joint campaigns together at various levels, work to develop awareness within society and especially our youth and inform them about the dangers and disasters of this problem. I also call on the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education to take stricter measures to monitor the spread or God forbid the use of these types of substances in places that should be places of education and learning, schools and universities.
Once again, I commend both the Barzani Charity Foundation and LDS organization for implementing this important project and hope they will always be successful.
Thank you very much.