“Twenty years of my life have been wasted, the feeling of security that people lost after the war, I lost it when I got married before the war.”
With these words, “Sarah” (a pseudonym), 36 years old, a displaced person from the Damascus countryside to northern Syria, expressed the tragic situation she lives with her husband who is addicted to drugs. Women bear the greatest burden in facing violence related to drug use, especially when a partner or family member is addicted.
In light of the security chaos that Syria has witnessed over the course of 14 years of war and its negative effects on individuals and society, women have found themselves alone in the eye of the storm, with no laws to guarantee their protection and no care centers to shield them from the violence inflicted by male family members addicted to drugs.
“When we were displaced to northern Syria in 2018, I hoped there would be a law to protect me, but it turned out to be the opposite. At most, I was shot, and no one cared,” says Sarah, who married at the age of 16, unaware that her husband was using drugs until she discovered a piece of hashish in his closet days after their wedding.
She then noticed a strange change in his behavior, along with hearing cryptic phrases exchanged between him and some family members who used the same substance together, such as “among themselves?” when offering a cigarette, referring to whether it contained hashish. On several occasions, Sarah inhaled the smoke and overheard them whispering, “it took its effect,” as she described.
In many cases, the issue doesn’t end there but spirals into more dangerous stages for women and children, sometimes breaking apart entire families and leaving behind social diseases that are difficult to address in the short term, according to social worker Salam Al-Tawil, who works with humanitarian organizations in Idlib Governorate, northern Syria
Indeed, this is what Sarah endured for 20 years, as her husband first forced her to smoke marijuana cigarettes and later gave her Tramadol pills. She shared, “I tried to resist taking the pill, but he would open my mouth to make sure I swallowed it. Once, I hid the pill under my tongue, but he discovered it, beat me, and forced me to swallow it. As soon as I did, I started shaking and felt like my heart was going to stop.
Tramadol is an effective pain reliever and is classified as a synthetic opioid, typically dispensed by prescription. Sold under the name Tramadol, it is available in about 20 different formulations containing the active ingredient Tramadol Hydrochloride. This drug disrupts dopamine secretion in the brain, which is associated with feelings of euphoria and happiness. Consequently, an addict’s primary goal becomes obtaining the dose needed to function normally and perform daily tasks. Overdose can lead to convulsions, a slowed heart rate, and even death, along with symptoms such as tension, anxiety, and severe mood swings, according to medical sources like PubMed.
Victimized by Her Husband and His Friends:
Sarah was coerced into taking narcotic pills, enduring severe beatings each time she refused. She faced continuous threats of harm to her children or family members, which eventually led her to request the pills herself. This spiraled into deeper dependency, profound loss, and a persistent sense of deadly schizophrenia and emotional confusion, as she described
I felt like I was anything but human. He wanted me to be a slave, forcing me to act like an animal and even invaded my imagination with horrible things. It seemed like he married me just to enjoy torturing me. Over time, I suffered psychological trauma and lost confidence in myself, feeling trapped in a solitary cycle controlled by his presence. At one point, I lost my connection with God and became so resentful that I stopped praying and fasting, believing I hadn’t done anything to deserve such punishment,” she says.
away. She recounts, “I was severely beaten, then he forced me to take private photos of myself and send them to his friends. In return, he would receive private photos of their wives in indecent and unnatural positions.”
Sarah endured these blatant violations due to her strong desire to protect her two children, Salam and Amir, fearing harm from their father or being deprived of seeing them. She also feared the societal stigma if people discovered that her children were the offspring of a drug addict. Despite her efforts to conceal her suffering, her husband’s madness sometimes exposed her children to the same violence she faced.
She confirms that she was constantly under threat—threats to her life, her children, and her family if she sought a divorce, especially after being displaced to northern Syria. There, her husband had easier access to various drugs with severe effects, such as Captagon pills and the extremely dangerous crystal methamphetamine known as H-Bose, which leads to reckless behavior and criminal acts without regard for the consequences.
It did not stop there; it escalated as Sarah became a target for both her husband and his friends. He allowed them to harass her in his presence or sent them to her home when he was away. She recounts, “I was severely beaten, then he forced me to take private photos of myself and send them to his friends. In return, he would receive private photos of their wives in indecent and unnatural positions.”
Sarah endured these blatant violations due to her strong desire to protect her two children, Salam and Amir, fearing harm from their father or being deprived of seeing them. She also feared the societal stigma if people discovered that her children were the offspring of a drug addict. Despite her efforts to conceal her suffering, her husband’s madness sometimes exposed her children to the same violence she faced.
She confirms that she was constantly under threat—threats to her life, her children, and her family if she sought a divorce, especially after being displaced to northern Syria. There, her husband had easier access to various drugs with severe effects, such as Captagon pills and the extremely dangerous crystal methamphetamine known as H-Bose, which leads to reckless behavior and criminal acts without regard for the consequences.
Women Entering the Hell of Drugs in Northern Syria:
There are no precise statistics on the number of women subjected to drug abuse in northern Syria. However, the Syrian Center for Drugs Control—a civil institution dedicated to combating drugs and treating addiction—has reported monitoring 20 cases of women experiencing domestic & family violence due to drug abuse over its two-year operation. Most of these cases are from the Ras al-Ain & Tal Abyad regions. The center notes that the actual number is likely much higher, but many cases remain hidden due to victims’ fear of their partners and societal stigma.
The center has also observed an increase in drug abuse among young people in northwestern and northeastern Syria in 2024 compared to 2021. According to Aseel al-Mahloul, head of the Women’s Support and Protection Unit at the center, periodic surveys indicate that drug use in the targeted areas affects about 40% of people aged 16 to 35 years.
Between February 1, 2022, and July 31, 2024, the center received calls from 200 addicts in northwest and northeast Syria through its hotline, seeking treatment and support for addiction-related issues. Specialists at the center provided consultations to help beneficiaries navigate their recovery, despite facing challenges due to limited resources and voluntary work.
Psychological specialist Hajar Al-Muhammad, who works with humanitarian organizations in northern Syria, confirmed that violence against women increases during wars and emergencies, forcing women to endure abuse regardless of its severity. She highlighted various forms of violence related to drug abuse, including physical and sexual violence, psychological and emotional abuse, exploitation, threats, and blackmail. Women are often coerced into drug abuse themselves or into facilitating drug access. This violence is not confined to northern Syria but extends throughout the country, creating a dire situation where women become complicit in the abuser’s actions. Social specialist Salam Al-Tawil also notes the growth of this phenomenon through her community work and cases seeking assistance.
Sarah concludes her conversation by sharing that she is trying to reduce her drug use. Instead of smoking an entire cigarette, she now limits herself to just a few “puffs.” However, this effort has only led to more violence from her husband. Still, she persists for the sake of her children, with the support of a friend living in Europe, who engages her in awareness-raising dialogues in an effort to pull her out of the vicious cycle. She also draws strength from her religious faith, which has helped her endure. With a deep sigh, she says quietly, “I couldn’t become a dirty person, but I can’t go back to being a clean one. I just need someone to listen without blame or judgment, without making me feel ashamed or stigmatized.
According to the Syrian Center for Drugs Control (SCDC), the number of women forced into drug use in its areas of operation has significantly increased in recent years. This issue is not only a health crisis but is also closely tied to rising rates of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
An Addict’s Story:
Not all women subjected to violence can easily escape, especially when circumstances compel them to remain with their abuser, as in the case of “Dalal” (a pseudonym, 40 years old). Before 2011, she chose her husband over her family when he proposed while she was living in Latakia Governorate. Now, Dalal lives in a camp north of Idlib with her husband after a 14-year marriage without children. Her husband forced her to take birth control injections, controlling her without any external influences, as she explained.
Reaching Dalal was challenging, but convincing her to talk about her suffering was not. She longed for someone to listen, not to seek help, but simply to feel heard. She expressed hopelessness, believing “it is impossible to help or solve her problem.”
“I didn’t know who to turn to after I fled my family. Everyone was afraid of my husband, and I didn’t feel supported enough to confront the violence,” she said. This sense of isolation has kept her with him despite years of beatings, humiliation, and forced drug use. Living in a tightly packed camp has only worsened her situation, as the lack of privacy allowed her husband to treat her brutally. He would tie her up, cover her mouth, and subject her to sexual, physical, psychological, and verbal violence, which eventually led to him forcing her into drug use.
“I don’t want to take drugs, but I’m forced to,” she added.
With tears streaming down her face, dark circles under her eyes, she repeated the words. Then, she quietly recounted her story, detailing the constant violations throughout her marriage and how she was forced into drug use.
Psychological Disorders and Social Isolation:
Women who are forced into drug use experience severe psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologist Hajar Al-Muhammad emphasizes the urgent need for psychological support and appropriate treatment to help these women recover and return to their normal lives. Providing a safe and supportive environment is crucial for empowering these women and rebuilding their lives.
The SCDC offers programs to support the families of drug users, particularly women, through its Women’s Protection and Empowerment Unit. This unit provides psychological support via a hotline for reporting violence, which has seen a significant increase in usage. Additionally, the center is preparing the “My Health” unit to offer specialized addiction consultations and follow-up services for addicts and their families to promote recovery and social integration, according to Aseel Al-Mahloul, head of the Women’s Support & Protection Unit.
Beyond the psychological toll, women also suffer from social isolation and loss of familial and community support. Social workers highlight that women forced into drug use often find themselves cut off from society, exacerbating their feelings of despair and frustration. To address this, support and rehabilitation programs are essential, including legal and psychological assistance for abused women.
However, in Syria, there is no specific law addressing domestic violence, especially against women. Human rights activist Hoda Serjawi notes that such crimes are treated under general harm and assault laws. Forcing others to use drugs can lead to severe penalties under Article 39 of Law No. 2 of 1993, including life imprisonment and significant fines. Yet, in northern Syria, women exposed to violence lack protection, as current laws date back to before 2011. Serjawi stresses the need for protective bodies to support women who have lost their families in the ongoing conflict.
Many women, fearing social stigma and the lack of protective measures, do not file complaints against their abusers. The stories of Sarah, Dalal, and others reflect the harsh reality faced by many women living under the burden of violence and addiction in northern Syria. With about six million people, including 2.9 million displaced individuals, enduring severe economic and living conditions, women and children—who make up 80% of the displaced population—face the brunt of gender-based violence. A United Nations statement from December 2022 revealed that around 7.3 million people in Syria, primarily women and girls, are in need of gender-based violence services. The ongoing spread of drugs in Syria exacerbates the challenges these women face, limiting their access to employment, protection services, healthcare, and other vital assistance.
“This material was produced as part of the Beyond Drugs campaign with support from sot Suri website.”
