Narcotics, a curse for Arab society

Muhammad Azam/DTNN

azam@dt.bh

Manama

Narcotics are not only a big issue for the Kingdom of Bahrain but also for the whole Arab world and this problem cannot be tackled without the cooperation of all segments of society, said Director Information Centre for Women and Children Welfare Society Dr Sami Dannish.

He was speaking to DT News at the sidelines of the award ceremony of Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Scientific Award Contest here in Isa Town yesterday.

Shaima Morsi from Egypt won the award for the year 2013. Dr Khalid Harbi from Saudi Arabia bagged the second prize while Mireille Abi Chahla from Lebanon and Hanaa Shwaikh from Egypt both won the third place in the biennial contest.

As many as 39 researchers from nine Arab countries namely Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen took part in the contest. The topic of the research thesis was “Narcotics and its effects on Society and Family.”  

He said that the board of trustees of the centre concentrates on the burning social issues and put forward those issues through such scientific contests.

Speaking to the DT News, President Children and Mothers Welfare Society Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa said that she was very pleased with the turnout of the people in the form of participants, winners and the speakers. She said that they were happy to see the Information Centre was contributing a lot in tackling the issues related to women and children. “Different social issues can be solved only with the cooperation of all parts of society,” she said.     

Second prize winner, Abi Chahla said that the narcotic addicts could be motivated both intrinsically and extrinsically. She said that extrinsic motivation in the form of family and legal pressures could only compel the patient for treatment but the results are not long lasting. On the other hand consciousness about the problem intrinsically was the main thing. “Realization about the consequences of addiction and the fear of losing everything including health and family respect are more powerful motives than extrinsic pressures,” she said.