327 People Died As A Result Of Drugs Over The Past Five Years

According to Dr. Ahmad Al-Shatti, CEO of Ghiras National Awareness Project for Drug Prevention, state institutes play a crucial role in preventing the spread of narcotics. Dr. Al-Shatti told KUNA that high-quality treatment is essential for drug abusers, noting that maintaining privacy about this issue is paramount to protecting patients from social stigma.

According to him, national statistics on drug-related deaths, alcohol-related deaths, and hallucinogen-related deaths have reached 327 in the past five years despite intensive efforts to prevent them. Ghiras has been at the forefront of spreading awareness about illegal drugs and addictions, according to Dr. Al-Shatti, explaining that the project is based on a modern and balanced approach. Since Ghiras launched its media campaign around two decades ago, Dr. Al-Shatti noted that it continues to do so.

From schools to the press, television and radio, Ghiras has been very active in spreading its anti-narcotics message. He commended the state for providing assistance and treatment to drug addicts, saying they must be able to be rehabilitated. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported in an evaluation that the Arab region has a serious problem with drug abuse among children as young as nine.

According to Al-Shatti, most local studies reported narcotics use among youth between the ages of 15-24 on a national scale. In 2018, there were about 27 million methamphetamine users worldwide, he said, adding that some Arab states had been recording an increase in the use of this substance.