Muscat: The Basmat Hayat Foundation for Youth and Human Development, in cooperation with the Anti-Drug Department in Ibb Governorate, organized an awareness seminar on the dangers of drugs, prevention, treatment methods, and ways to curb their spread, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse.
According to Yemen News Agency, the seminar was held in partnership with Ibb University under the slogan 'Together Against Drugs.' It aimed to raise community awareness of the health, psychological, social, and economic harms of addiction, strengthen the role of families and educational institutions in prevention, explain legal aspects, and highlight the impact of narcotics and psychotropic substances on individuals and society.
During the event, which was attended by MP Ali Al-Zanom, Chief Prosecutor of Ibb Appeals Court Judge Abdulrahman Al-Nazili emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about drug risks and addressing the growing threat of this phenomenon.
Ibb's Mobilization Official Abdul Fattah Ghallab noted that the increasing spread of drugs in recent years requires intensified security and preventive efforts, along with year-round awareness campaigns. He stressed that combating drugs is a collective responsibility.
The head of the Anti-Drug Department in Ibb, Colonel Zain Al-Abideen Al-Shaghadri, reviewed the effects of drug abuse, linking it to rising crime rates. He reported that the department had recorded more than 600 cases of trafficking, possession, and use in less than three years, with over 60 convictions issued, including prison sentences ranging from three to 25 years.
The seminar featured several presentations highlighting the role of security, health, educational, and social institutions in preventing drug abuse. Three main sessions addressed drug testing and toxicology, causes of addiction, psychological and behavioral indicators of drug use, as well as the role of families in prevention.
The seminar concluded with recommendations calling for stronger coordination between security, health, and educational institutions, the expansion of rehabilitation centers, confidential treatment programs, stricter laws and monitoring of entry points, and greater family and community involvement in awareness efforts. Participants also called for media campaigns to reduce the stigma surrounding seeking treatment and to promote the view of addiction as a treatable illness rather than a social disgrace.