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Fighters in Syria are on steady doses of an amphetamine called Captagon. This allows them “stay up for days, killing with a numb, reckless abandon.” Side effects include “psychosis and brain damage”
Jul
Fighters in Syria Using Captagon in Prolonged Combat
Damascus, July 2025 — In Syria’s ongoing conflict, combatants are reportedly using steady doses of Captagon—an illicit amphetamine-type stimulant—to sustain themselves during intense, prolonged fighting. The drug is enabling fighters to “stay up for days, killing with a numb, reckless abandon,” according to a BBC-sourced description. Captagon produces a state of heightened alertness and emotional detachment, making users fearless and seemingly invulnerable
On the Battlefield
Originally developed in the 1960s as fenethylline to treat narcolepsy, Captagon was banned decades ago. However, counterfeit versions flooding the region are often a mix of amphetamines, caffeine, meth derivatives, and other unregulated substances reuters.com+15newarab.com+15newarab.com+15. Fighters and some state and non-state groups reportedly use it as “chemical courage” to power through multi-day missions thenationalnews.com+3newarab.com+3washingtonpost.com+3.
A BBC Arabic interview captured the brutal effects:
“There’s a great deal of trafficking… but what is being manufactured… we have no visibility.”
“You can’t sleep… and whatever you take to stop it, nothing can stop it.” aljazeera.com+13washingtonpost.com+13thesun.co.uk+13
Another ex-fighter told BBC:
“You’re awake all the time… There was no fear anymore after I took Captagon.” thenationalnews.com+11washingtonpost.com+11thesun.co.uk+11
Alarming Health Consequences
While the drug provides temporary combat advantages, its effects are devastating. Health professionals warn of serious side effects: insomnia, anxiety, aggression, severe mood swings, and notably, psychosis and brain damage washingtonpost.com.
According to medical studies and frontline doctors, prolonged use—often combined with sleep deprivation—can trigger extreme psychotic episodes, including hallucinations and delusional paranoia. Repeated exposure also elevates risks of cognitive decline and physical deterioration washingtonpost.com+2thenationalnews.com+2washingtonpost.com+2.
From Regime Pill to Regional Crisis
During the Assad regime, Syria reportedly produced up to 80% of the world’s Captagon—valued between $5 billion and $57 billion annually—and used revenues to fund its war efforts reuters.com+15english.elpais.com+15newarab.com+15.
Millions of pills have been seized in operations by Gulf states, Jordan, and Lebanon—some shipments concealed in everyday items from fruit to appliances reuters.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8theguardian.com+8. Following the collapse of regime-controlled regions in late 2024, rebel groups uncovered and destroyed numerous secret labs and stockpiles—evidence of the drug’s deep integration into the political economy newarab.com+2english.elpais.com+2thesun.co.uk+2.
In Summary
- Combat tool: Fighters use Captagon to stay awake, fearless, and brutally efficient.
- Public health hazard: The same drug inflicts severe psychiatric and neurological harm.
- Narco-state legacy: Assad-era production fueled both conflict and crime across the region.
Authorities and NGOs warn that Captagon isn’t just a battlefield drug—it’s a regional public health emergency. With schoolchildren and civilians increasingly affected, experts call for a coordinated international response and expanded rehabilitation services across Syria.
