The Department of Biology at the College of Education for Pure Sciences organized a scientific lecture on drug addiction: its effects, dangers, and means of combating it in Iraq. The lecture was presented by Asst. Prof. Hamid Jawad Kadhim. This lecture aimed to introduce the concept of drug addiction, which is considered one of the most serious challenges facing modern societies, threatening public health and social and economic stability. In Iraq, with the increasingly difficult circumstances the country has experienced in recent years, the problem of drug abuse has become significantly worse, especially among young people. Therefore, it is essential to shed light on this issue and raise awareness of its dangers and ways to prevent it. The lecture also included several topics on the causes of the spread of drugs in Iraq. These include difficult economic conditions, such as poverty and unemployment, which push some young people to seek ways to escape reality, making them vulnerable to drug use. The lack of security, due to the wars and conflicts that Iraq has experienced, has weakened the security system, facilitating drug smuggling from neighboring countries, as well as weak border controls. The researcher recommended the need to pay attention to such issues due to the danger of drugs to Iraqi society. He also stressed the need to activate the role of civil society by encouraging non-governmental organizations to participate in anti-drug efforts and allocating larger budgets for awareness campaigns in schools and universities.
