Iraqis turn to drugs to escape violence

[Judi Lynn]

Iraqis turn to drugs to escape violence
By SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press Writer
8 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Tamam Abdul-Kadhim started taking a sedative about two years ago to calm his nerves after he witnessed a bombing in central Baghdad. Soon he was addicted.

The 35-year-old is one of a growing number of Iraqis turning to drugs to help them cope with the daily violence and other problems that have become part of their lives.

"I saw for the first time in my life brains and body parts scattered after a bombing in central Baghdad," he said. "I was not able to think properly or sleep because the images from that massacre were stuck in my mind so that I relied on this medicine."
(snip)

Health officials say that in a shift from Saddam Hussein's ousted regime, the abuse of prescription and illegal drugs has become more widespread than alcoholism.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060717/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_drug_abusehttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060717/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_drug_abuse

[az chela]

1. And this surprises who???

With what thier lives have become I dont think there are drugs strong enough to get them thru this murdering farce of a cowboy war by the dick head and the shrub!!!And dont forget Rummy and Condi.What a bunch of poor excuses for humans

[afrosia]

2. Harsh

But on the plus side, someone tell them I've got some great Lebanese Polm that's going cheap.

[laruemtt]

3. yet another boon for big pharma -

:mad:

[ovidsen]

4. Here's a new link

'cause the Yahoo link doesn't seem to work!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Iraq_Drug_Abuse.html

In prewar Iraq, alcoholism was the main problem facing 80 percent of patients being treated for addiction at the hospital, while 20 percent suffered from drug abuse, al-Abod said. But over the past three years, drug abuse accounts for 70 percent of the cases, while alcoholism decreased to 30 percent, he said.

Good story.

[redqueen]

5. so very sad...

i can't help but think of all the families with children who are stuck there, without the resources to escape... i hope they get away soon, safely. it's horrible to even think of what these innocent people are going through on a daily basis.

:(