The College of Medicine at the University of Alkafeel, in collaboration with the Lifelong Learning Center, held an awareness workshop : "The Scourge of Drugs and Phenomenon of Addiction: Threat to Community Security" on Tuesday morning, September 17, 2024. The workshop was attended by the Dean of the College of Medicine, Asst. Prof. Dr. Samer Maki Al-Hakkak, faculty members, and a group of students from various faculties at the university.

   The workshop was presented by Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hashem Hussein Al-Rifai, a professor at the College of Pharmacy. In his lecture, he discussed the dangers of drugs to individuals and society, explaining the psychological and physical effects of addiction. He also highlighted the importance of community awareness and the need to activate the role of academic and medical institutions in confronting this phenomenon, emphasizing that addiction has become a threat to community security and stability.

    The workshop witnessed great interaction from the attendees, who stirred many questions about prevention and treatment methods, and how to support addicts in recovery and their return to society. Dr. Al-Rifai emphasized the important role is for the educational institutions to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs, and called for intensified joint efforts between health and educational institutions to address this serious issue.

    At the conclusion of the workshop, participants recommended the need to hold more similar awareness workshops and continue media and educational campaigns to combat addiction and promote preventive values among youth. They stressed the importance of collaboration between universities, health institutions, and security agencies to achieve a drug-free society.