Heroin addiction on the rise in Lebanon

There is a rising problem among Lebanon’s youth which many are trying to ignore.

Lebanon, which is known internationally for its long history of drug cultivation, now has a rising number of addicts overwhelming the country’s drug rehabilitation centers.

“There are an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 drug addicts in Lebanon, and around 75 percent of them are heroin addicts,” says Nadya Mikdashi, director of Skoun, a Beirut-based addiction rehabilitation center. “However, there hasn’t been a comprehensive study, so the real number is unknown.”

“A lot of the studies have largely focused on Beirut and not other areas, so the real number of addicts could be far higher in reality,” she continues. “Worryingly we have seen the number of submissions grow in recent years.” DS