The Syrian Future Movement follows with great interest and appreciation the Syrian government’s launch of the National Campaign to Combat Drugs and Treat Addiction, under the slogan “A Syria Without Drugs,” on Friday, June 27, 2026, in an official ceremony held at the Damascus Conference Palace under the patronage and in the presence of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
This campaign, organized by the Ministries of Interior and Health, coincides with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. It embodies a fundamental shift in the state’s approach to the drug issue, adopting a comprehensive security, treatment, and prevention perspective. This reflects a clear will to eradicate this scourge, which the ousted regime transformed into a tool for financing, extortion, and threatening regional security.
The Syrian Future Movement commends this step, which moves the fight against drugs from the realm of isolated security measures to a comprehensive national strategy that integrates security efforts with educational, awareness, and health programs.
The Syrian Future Movement also appreciates the statements made by Interior Minister Anas Khattab during the launch ceremony, in which he affirmed that combating drugs “is not merely a security task, but a national and moral duty,” and that the ousted regime had transformed Syria into “the largest source of Captagon and other narcotics,” using the drug trade as a means of extortion and illicit financing.
We also see in this campaign a clear message that the new Syria is determined to restore its image as a nation of science and development, and an active partner in protecting regional and international security.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the Interior Minister highlighted the qualitative and unprecedented results achieved by specialized agencies, including dismantling international smuggling networks, seizing Captagon production facilities, and confiscating tons of raw materials. This is in addition to strengthening security cooperation with neighboring countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council states, and conducting joint operations that resulted in the arrest of prominent figures involved in the drug trade across the region.
For our part, the Syrian Future Movement commends this approach, which reflects the state’s seriousness in confronting this transnational crime and strengthens regional cooperation in combating drugs, thus contributing to the protection of national and regional security. We also recall the statement issued by the Ministry of Interior on June 14, 2026, regarding the dismantling of an international drug trafficking network in the Homs and Deir ez-Zor governorates, and the seizure of approximately 800,000 Captagon pills and 60 kilograms of hashish. This confirms the continuation of security efforts in this area.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its unwavering commitment to combating drugs as a war crime and an existential threat to society, as published on its official website. This commitment includes:
- The statement on “Syrian-Iraqi Security Cooperation and the Dismantling of an International Drug Network” (dated June 14, 2026), which commended the joint security operations between the two countries and emphasized that drugs have been used as a weapon in the new generation of warfare to impoverish societies, destroy the minds of young people, and finance terrorist groups.
- The statement on the “Leishmaniasis Control Campaign in Aleppo” (dated June 8, 2026), which stressed that protecting public health is a national responsibility requiring a comprehensive approach, which also applies to the fight against drugs and the treatment of addiction.
- The study “Reconstruction Priorities in Syria” (dated December 19, 2024) indicated that rebuilding Syria is not limited to bridges and buildings, but also includes building a healthy and well-adjusted population, both physically and psychologically, and combating the scourge of drugs that threatens the future of generations.
While the Syrian Future Movement appreciates this important step, it emphasizes that the true success of the campaign is not measured by the volume of advertising, but rather by its ability to bring about tangible change in society, reduce the spread of drugs, and provide treatment and support for addicts.
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Ensuring the continuity and expansion of awareness and prevention programs by integrating them into educational curricula, launching sustained media campaigns, and training community leaders to participate in prevention and treatment efforts, similar to the Ministry of Health’s commitment to training community leaders for this purpose.
- Strengthening cooperation with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to benefit from international expertise in addiction treatment and to develop rehabilitation and social reintegration programs for recovering addicts, in line with the Ministry of Health’s commitment to collaborating with these organizations.
- Expanding the capacity of existing treatment centers and activating new centers in various governorates, including Aleppo and Idlib, and converting some sites previously used for drug-related activities into recovery and treatment centers, in accordance with the national expansion plan announced by the Ministry of Health.
- Engaging civil society and the private sector in drug control efforts by supporting youth initiatives, encouraging private sector funding for prevention and treatment programs, and strengthening the role of families and schools in protecting children from the dangers of drugs, in line with the government’s commitment to integrating national efforts in this area.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that combating drugs is a shared national and international responsibility, and that the success of the national campaign “Syria Without Drugs” requires the concerted efforts of all parties.
We also highly value the Syrian government’s commitment to this issue and commend the significant security results achieved, as well as the comprehensive approach that combines prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The new Syria, which is now taking firm steps toward recovery and reconstruction, is called upon to continue on this path and strengthen regional and international cooperation to combat the scourge of drugs, so that it may serve as a model for the region in protecting its society and youth from these poisons.
For our part, the Syrian Future Movement will remain supportive, critical, and vigilant regarding this issue, striving to build the new Syria on the foundations of health, dignity, and sustainable development.
