UAE | Crime

Dubai police launches campaign to rehabilitate 5000 drug addicts

An anti-narcotics campaign has been launched by Dubai Police to help rehabilitate 5,000 drug addicts in the Arab world.

  • WAM
  • Published: 14:34 March 10, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai : An anti-narcotics campaign has been launched by Dubai Police to help rehabilitate 5,000 drug addicts in the Arab world.

The campaign, titled Protection, was organised by Dubai Police and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the Middle East and North Africa and the Right Start Foundation International.

It was announced on Monday during a press conference attended by Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, Mohammad Abdul Aziz, representative of the UNODC and well-known Islamic propagator Amr Khalid.

Lt Gen Dahi said there were 10 million drug addicts in the Arab world, according to international statistics, which highlights the significance of the issue of drug addiction, and the importance of collective efforts to face this challenge and raise awareness about its dangers.

Tragedies

"Apart from the regional openness, the Arab region has been through many crises and wars, which left behind many tragedies that prompted a lot of young men to take drugs," said Lt Gen Dahi.

He also highlighted the negative impact of indecent TV satellite channels on the young generation's moral values, while stressing the need for a modern religious approach to guide them and protect them from drugs.

Abdul Aziz thanked Dubai Police for their efforts to protect Arab society from drugs.

Drug consumption is a worldwide problem with 212 million drug users, which constitutes five per cent of the world's population aged between 15 and 64.

The campaign comes at a time when Arab security services are collaborating in efforts to curb the growth of narcotic plants and to seize the largest possible quantities of drugs, Abdul Aziz added.

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