From harm to hope ….”Sudan Free of addiction by the end of the year 2023 “
Report by:Haffiya Elyas
Recently, the phenomenon of the use of drugs and narcotic drugs has spread among young people without a prescription from the competent authorities .
The National Campaign Initiative to Combat drugs and treatment of addiction in Sudan was launched at Friendship Hall recently so as to conduct throughout Sudan “under the slogan of“A Sudan Free of addiction by the end of the year 2023 “.
The aim of the campaign is to lead and combat drugs abuse and circulation, which has become imminent threat to the future of young people.
The international organizations had provided financial support to some youth organizations in order to support transition issues, but these supports were used to promote drug abuse among youth, which requires that the state lead in all its sectors real and great action that curbs this dangerous phenomenon and brings tangible results.
The Government directed urgent formation of specialized committees at the federal, state and local levels to deal with the phenomenon .
The Sovereignty Council announced the adoption of projects to rehabilitate addiction treatment centers within the activities of this campaign, while accompanying all sectors of Sudanese society, as well as civil society organizations, scholars and those concerned with this matter.
Acting Federal Minister of Health , Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, stressed that the Ministry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, continuously monitors to ensure compliance with the prescription of narcotic drugs and their preparations, dispensing them correctly, and dealing with any information received regarding the sale or misuse of these prescriptions, within the framework of control efforts and in implementation of its mission to ensure safe medicine and reduce its misuse.
Haitham also stressed in a forum organized recently discussed the controls of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances , beside the importance of the role of relevant institutions, doctors, pharmacists and the Drug Enforcement Administration in the forum and the consensus on how to control and the mechanism of its application, and valued the great and effective role of the regular forces in combating drugs, while calling on the media to continuously raise awareness of the danger of the use of narcotic drugs.
The Secretary-General of the Drugs and Poisons Council stressed the importance of the Council’s role in controlling narcotic drugs and called for activating laws and legislation in order to protect society by limiting their spread, pointing to the targeting of young people in schools and universities.
He revealed that the percentage of psychiatric drugs in Sudan came in second place after antibiotics, stressing the role played by pharmacists and their exposure to dangers in many cases, and praised the role of the police and security services in combating drugs.
He warned that patients and addicts need attention and care despite the high cost of addiction treatment.
The Citizen met with some doctors and pharmacists about young people’s use of narcotic drugs without a prescription:
Dr . Mohamed Hassan stressing the role played by pharmacists and their exposure to dangers in many cases, praising the role of the police and security services in combating drugs.
He warned that patients and addicts need attention and care despite the high cost of addiction treatment.
While Isrra Hamed , pharmacist stated that with the presence of different types of narcotic substances in pharmacies as medical drugs prescribed to treat some diseases, such as cough medicine (Amadul) and (Volottab) and Tramadol, which young people use because it is available in pharmacies at an affordable price, in addition to other drugs, most of which are psychological, and with the absence of actual and continuous control by the concerned authorities on these substances, they have become an unusual presence among young people because they are easily accessible, through one of the existing pharmacies, in addition to that they have become alternative drugs for young people because they It is characterized by low price compared to traditional drugs that require huge sums to obtain.
In a tour of one of the pharmacies in Sharq Al- Nile locality , Dr. M.A. said that they do not dispense medicine without a prescription, except stamped by a specialist doctor, especially narcotic drugs.
For his part, Dr. Muhammad Talha said, “We have a look at the citizen who buys medicine if he is addicted or not, through the prescription he offers in the pharmacy. And our attention increased more after the national campaign.
Government, Civil society, families and parents should ensure that there is early intervention for young people and families at the greatest risk and make sure all children are provided with high quality education on health and relationships to help prevent the use of drugs.
They have to offer more support to people with drug addiction. Addiction is a chronic condition that requires earlier and better treatment, and sustained support. That will be combined with more funding to give more people better quality treatment, support for those who are in need of housing, and employment support to help people find a job that’s right for them.
Drug dependence often co-exists with other health disparities, like poor mental health and homelessness, so we’re making sure the physical and mental health needs of people with drug addictions are addressed, to reduce harm and support recovery.