Forum “621” discusses avoiding drugs
Rashid Diab Center for Arts, under auspices of Kenana Sugar Company Ltd., addressed in its regular forum at its headquarters in Al-Juraif West, drugs issue, under the theme: “Drugs: Avoidance and Treatment”.
Police Major Zaher Khalafallah Abd Al-Sayed, Director of the Media and Awareness Department of the General Administration for Drug Control, and Mr. Abdel Aziz Abdel Rahman Hamad from the National Committee on Drug Control were the main speakers, while the session was moderated by Ms. Israa Babiker. A considerable number of interested people attended the event.
Police Major Zaher Khalafallah Abd al-Sayed said that the drug problem is a global and international issue, and Sudan is not exempt from the system of those countries and is affected by the global tide of the phenomenon.
He added that young people often deviate to the negative imitation of things, pointing out that emptiness plays a major role in leading young people to drug abuse and addiction.
He ruled out that drugs are solely the phenomena, linking the phenomenon to the existence of specific numbers, but said:” we have not received clear statistics and figures on the number of persons addicted to drugs.”
He explained that they were in dire need to know exact figures on addicts, stressing that Sudan lacks a specialized hospital for the treatment of addiction.
He mentioned that a great deal of state ministries play different roles in combating drugs, including the ministries of interior and health, pointing out that smoking is one of the factors or entry into the world of drugs.
Maj. Khalafallah divided drugs into three: the first, natural drugs, which include a number of types, second, semi-industrial, and third industrial drugs.
He indicated that natural drugs are divided into four types: namely cannabis or hashish, poppy plant, coca plant, which is grown in Latin America and from which cocaine is extracted, and the fourth is the qad plant, which is peculiar to Yemen.
He revealed that “ice drug” was manufactured in Japan in 1919, for medical purposes, but has been used incorrectly in recent years, especially in Sudan, therefore the youth dub it “the devil” or “shabu”, pointing out that Sudan is a signatory to international agreements to combat drugs. .
He elaborated on plans and strategy of the General Administration for Drug Control, which he said are based on three axes: reducing the demand for drugs, reducing supply. in which the Operations Department works on five plans, which are combating and eradicating seeds, and eradicating crops in the regions, target areas, as well as plans to block the roads through which drugs cross, in addition to securing land and sea ports, and raising the degree of public awareness in an attempt to reach out to institutions.
As for Mr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Hamad, in his speech, he explained the work of the National Committee on Drug Control and what it does in terms of preventive treatment and educational work. He said that drugs are one of the most serious threats to economic and community security.
He said that there are many factors that drag people into drug use, including weak religious faith and leisure.
On the one hand, Mr. Abdelaziz Al-Doul carried the burden of drug abuse among young people by not creating jobs for them, in addition to the fact that the family also represents the backbone of proper education. He argued that the lack of dialogue between children is also one of the reasons that drive young people to drug addiction.
He called for the need for a balance in education, stressing that bad friends always hunt children in the presence of family disputes, indicating that a drug addict is a person without reason and can commit the most serious crimes against himself and society.
He believes that there is a great deal of neglect in schools and educational institutions, which he attributes to the absence of awareness and education, in addition to the absence of a social researcher at state schools.
Abdel Aziz revealed that the Committee on Drug Control has developed a set of awareness programs that keep pace with modernity, catering to the youth needs and aspirations aimed at working to bridge the gap. He said they had a group of partnerships with civil society organizations and with the United Nations organizations.
Mr. Abdel Aziz called for intensifying efforts and concerting roles with the government to combat the danger of drugs, adding that the Committee on Drug Control would care about the treatment of addicted persons.
Dr. Rashid Diab, in his comments, held that all indications indicate that Sudanese youth are heading to the path of drug addiction, due to the absence of educational awareness in Sudan. He said that his center in its program plans sheds light on societal issues and tries to search for necessary solutions. For years, it developed a set of recommendations related to the topics discussed. Diab said that Sudan is one of the countries targeted for destroying its youth and economy.
He called on the state and civil society organizations to make concerted efforts to combat the risks of drugs, pointing out that that can only be done by turning to culture and arts.
The poet Abdullah Al-Ashari also recited an enthusiastic poem on dangers of drugs, and promoting awareness.
Vocalist and musician Hashim Kabli concluded the evening by performing a number of songs that were greeted with appreciation by the audience.