By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos/images courtesy of Pixabay and Pexels
Amid the Middle East’s conflicts and economic collapse, a small white pill has quietly become one of the world’s most lucrative and dangerous narcotics. Known as Captagon, this stimulant, once prescribed for medical use, has re-emerged into a multibillion-dollar industry, fuelling organised crime, empowering armed groups and reshaping regional power dynamics.
Originally developed in Germany in the 1960s, Captagon, known chemically as fenethylline, was introduced as a treatment for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and narcolepsy. For a brief period, it was even approved for medical use in the United States. However, growing concerns over severe side effects, including hallucinations, psychosis, seizures and rare cases of heart complications, resulted in its withdrawal from regulated markets (Hamilton, 2025).
In recent years, Captagon has re-emerged in a vastly different role. The stimulant, which suppresses hunger and fatigue, has become widely associated with conflict zones in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Its ability to enhance focus, endurance and alertness has made it attractive to both civilians coping with instability and combatants, earning it nicknames such as “chemical courage” and, controversially, the “drug of jihad” (Hamilton, 2025).
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[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: June 2026. This article is available for purchase.]