Sulaymaniyah panel warns of drug dangers, calls for cross-sector coordination

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — A foundation focused on community development held an awareness panel in Sulaymaniyah on Tuesday to address the dangers of drug use and ways to prevent it. The event brought together health-sector specialists, religious figures and journalists. Yadkar Ismail, the panel coordinator, said the session was designed to raise public awareness among young people and reinforce a culture of prevention. Speakers addressed the health, social and security dimensions of drug use, as well as the roles that state institutions, religious bodies, the media and civil society organizations can play in reducing it. Participants said combating drug addiction requires cooperation across all relevant sectors. The panel also examined methods of protection against addiction and ways to strengthen coordination among the institutions involved in prevention efforts. The event was organized by Keshti Social Development Foundation, which focuses on community-level programs in the Kurdistan Region.