The Impact of Drug Abuse on Crime Commission A Field Study in Erbil City

Abstract

This study, titled "The Impact of Drug Abuse on Crime Commission: A Field Study in Erbil," aims to identify the nature of the relationship and the effects of drug use on motivating individuals to engage in criminal behavior. To achieve this objective, the researcher adopted a Qualitative Method and utilized Thematic Analysis. Field data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of (23) male and female participants serving legal sentences in the Adult, Women, and Juvenile Reformatories in Erbil, as well as those detained by security agencies.

The field results revealed an organic and direct correlation between the type of drug (specifically Crystal Meth) and the pattern of committed crimes. Drugs function as bio-chemical drivers that numb fear centers and generate illusory courage, propelling individuals toward violent crimes (such as homicide and assault) and moral offenses. Furthermore, the study found that addiction leads the individual into a state of "Anomie" and a total collapse of values, where securing the substance becomes the sole objective, even at the expense of stealing from family or violating social sanctities. The findings also indicated that demographic factors—such as low educational attainment, poverty, and family disintegration—have created a fertile environment for the escalation of this phenomenon in Erbil. The study concludes that addressing this issue is not merely a security matter; rather, it requires a comprehensive psychological, social, and economic strategy to prevent recidivism and protect the social fabric of the Kurdistan Region.