Ghiras forum discusses media’s role on drugs
KUWAIT: The Ghiras Project forum titled ‘The role of modern in media in prevention of drugs in youth’ opened yesterday at the National Library of Kuwait, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and the Mentor Arabia Organization. The forum will last for two days.
“The use of drug has become the biggest issue in Kuwait that has an effect on decision makers in politics and on families in a negative way socially, physically, psychologically and economically,” said Faisal Al- Mutlqem, Acting Undersecretary at the Ministry of Information, who spoke on behalf of the sponsor of the forum, Minister of Information and Minister of Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah. He pointed out that a number of studies have shown that drug addicts in the Arab world have reached those as low as 12-year olds.
Kuwait on drugs
“The level of awareness among young people about the drug does not exceed 31 percent. Kuwait Law No. 74/1983 states a fierce fight against drugs. The country has established public administration to combat the drug in 2006. Kuwait’s war against drug formulated the slogan ‘Ghiras is the answer’ as a media awareness activity. The media plays a big role in drawing the attention of the community to the danger of drugs abuse and how to prevent them through real actions,” said Mutlqem.
“The forum aims to highlight the importance of the media as a tool for an effective way in the prevention of drug in the youth and how to create a network of journalists experienced in the prevention of drug and drug awareness,” Dr Ahmed Al-Shatti, Director General of Ghiras said.
Shatti added the forum joined hands with the media to display the role of the media in the war against drugs as an essential partner in any community. He called for the media to put its efforts to resolve this problem. He also pointed out that the drug addicts files reached 18,000 in Addiction Treatment Center.
Promoting awareness
Thoria Ismail, Executive Director of the Mentor Arabia Organization, said the organization seeks to promote awareness through the implementation of effective programs that target all segments of the society. “Latest studies, facts and reports indicate the growing phenomenon of drug use among young people rapidly in light of the many social challenges such as poverty, unemployment, ignorance and lack of security and political stability in the region,” Shatti said. She also stressed the importance of the role of social media in raising awareness among the youth.
Dr. Imad Salamah, General Director of the Arab Research and Development Center, showed a presentation on young people in the age between 15 to 35 years following social media daily, that makes them know about drugs types, and gave them the opportunity to be aware of the dangers of drug use. During the opening of the forum, Ghiras signed a cooperation agreement with the Fund for Fighting and Treating Addiction in Egypt. Ghiras honored the sponsors and participants in the forum sessions and workshops.