Drug addiction increases in Van

The AKP-MHP government have built thick walls between Rojhilat and North Kurdistan on the Van-Iran border to prevent the passage of refugees. However, it allows the passage of drugs. As a result of this policy implemented by the government, drug addiction has continued to increase. Drug addicts were 13 thousand in 2015 but increased to 20 thousand in 2021. Drug and substance abuse is encouraged by the police in the neighborhoods of the city and in front of schools.

Free drug smuggling at the border

Methamphetamine, which has been accepted as the most dangerous drug in the world in recent years, is certainly very harmful and dangerous and has spread fast in the world. Methamphetamine is easily smuggled through the Iranian border to Turkey. While 125 people have been killed by state forces in the last 19 years for allegedly “smuggling people” at the border, drug trafficking is easily carried out.

‘Drugs cannot be sold so easily anywhere in the world’

A resident of Van, who did not want to be named, has a son addicted to methamphetamine. He said that Iranian and Turkish state forces allow the substance to circulate freely and be sold. The father said that despite all their efforts, their son couldn’t manage to get clean and added that everyone has a duty in fighting drugs. “You cannot find any other place where drugs are sold so freely.”