Combating Drugs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: An Analytical Study of the Role of the Relevant Institutions and the Procedures Followed*

Abstract

This research examines the phenomenon of drugs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as one of the most prominent contemporary challenges threatening societal security at all levels, particularly health and economic aspects in the region. It highlights the associated legal, security, health, and social dimensions. The research attempts to expose legislative gaps and differences in punitive and therapeutic approaches to addressing this phenomenon by comparing the Kurdistan Region's Law No. (1) of 2020 with the Federal Narcotics Law No. (50) of 2017. The research also examines the roles of security institutions, such as the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, the Asayish Service, and the Border Guards, in addition to the role of the judiciary and the Ministries of Health, Education, Labour, and Social Affairs. It also examines the contributions of non-governmental organisations to prevention and rehabilitation.The research adopts a descriptive analytical approach based on a review of legal texts, an analysis of official data, and an assessment of the institutional structure and coordination among relevant agencies. The study concludes that the lack of legislative integration and institutional coordination constitutes two major obstacles to the effectiveness of drug control efforts. It recommends the unification of legal frameworks, the establishment of permanent coordination mechanisms, and the strengthening of partnerships between government agencies and civil society to build a sustainable and comprehensive strategy to combat the drug phenomenon.