Interior Ministry Panel Conducts Course on Drug Abuse

Doha, January 22 (QNA) - A three-day course titled 'Preventive Education on Drug Risks' enlightened school students on the perils of drug abuse, its adverse health effects and the impact this addiction on the community. The Ministry of Interior's Permanent Committee on Drug and Alcohol Affairs (PCDAA) conducted the course for students from Ali bin Jassim bin Mohammed Secondary Independent Schools for Boys. The course, organized as part of the National Strategy to Combat Drugs and 7th phase of National Project to create awareness on risks and dangers of drugs (Weqaya), held for 40 students of the schools started on January 17 and concluded last Thursday. This course is conducted by the PCDAA in various schools, universities, sports clubs and youth centers in Qatar. PCDAA Secretary Major Ibrahim Mohammed Al Sameeh said, "The course is focused on students from a number of middle and high schools in the state and endeavours to increase the awareness and knowledge of youth on the adverse impact of drug addiction as well as the ways to prevent." In his lecture, Major Al Sameeh warned students on the dangers of substance and drug abuse, the health complications, like the degeneration of brain cells that result from prolonged use, as well as unacceptable social behaviour like violence under its effect. He also mentioned the types of addictive drugs prevalent in society and ways to combat its spread and preventive methods. PCDAA Social Researcher Dr. Ahmed Zaki, in his lecture, said that drug abuse does not depend on social status or economic factor. It often depends on the abnormal behaviour of the addict which leads him to fulfill his needs without realising the devastating consequences that it would have on his health, family and the community. (QNA)