BABYLON, Iraq — Iraqi youths refer to a drug addict as a "moukabsel,” a word originating from “capsule.” Visits to cafes and casinos, makes it readily apparent that many youths cannot make it to the end of their day without taking pills, which are available in markets with sellers trading them discreetly.
A young man from Babil province, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Baghdad, told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that he refuses to called a "moukabsel.” But he said he takes pills whenever he feels down and unable to survive the hardships of his life, being unemployed and not having finished his education.