Recent trends and socioeconomic correlates of drug abuse and trafficking in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from 2014 to 2024

Abstract Background Drug abuse and trafficking have escalated significantly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) since 2014, in a context marked by economic crises, armed conflict, and large-scale population displacement. Methods This study employs a descriptive–exploratory mixed-methods design that combines official administrative records (2006–2024), a structured survey of 300 individuals with direct experience of drug use and/or trafficking, and semi-structured interviews with users, traffickers, and key informants. Quantitative analysis comprises descriptive statistics of survey responses and trend analysis of official indicators; qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings from the three data streams were systematically triangulated. Results Young, single, and unemployed males emerge as the group most affected. Widespread polydrug use and a marked shift toward synthetic and pharmaceutical substances were observed. Official records document a sharp escalation in all drug-related indicators after 2014, coinciding with overlapping economic and humanitarian crises. Across all three data sources, low income, reliance on social assistance, unemployment, family instability, and involvement in trafficking consistently emerged as conditions associated with drug involvement. Conclusion Drug abuse and trafficking in the KRI are closely associated with socioeconomic vulnerability and structural instability. Responses based solely on enforcement appear insufficient; effective policy requires integrated strategies combining economic support, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and social protection.