Dubai: An increasing number of parents have been calling police to report cases of drug abuse by their children in response to a narcotics awareness campaign.
The Dubai Police "Beware of becoming the next victim" anti-narcotics campaign is designed to educate the public about the harmful effects of drugs.
The campaign, organised by the Awareness and Prevention section of the General Department for Combating Narcotics, had resulted in an increase in the number or reported cases, especially by parents who want to help their children receive treatment, police said.
Major Dr Juma Al Shamsi, Director of the section, said since the campaign began three months ago there had been a notable increase in the number of calls from parents to report their children.
Families were also co-operate with the authorities to provide treatment for their addicted loved ones.
Al Shamsi said his section worked to pardon the addicts who had come forward for treatment.
Rather than punishing them, they were treated as patients in need of medical care. The campaign is designed to reach university and school students, and their families, as most addicts were aged between 20 and 30 years, Al Shamsi said.
Al Shamsi said the department, together with its community partners, had organised 15 exhibitions, 19 lectures and eight visits from schools to the department in the first quarter of the campaign.
A video by Emirati singer Hussain Al Jesmi which warned viewers to not use drugs would be aired in co-operation with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, he said.
The campaign recently arranged for a team to help publicise the campaign among members of the public at Mercato Mall.
Families to be on alert
Through its various activities, the department addresses all family members and urges them to phone the toll-free number 800400400 if they suspect that a loved one may be taking drugs.
This specially applies to parents who suspect the young ones, who may develop harmful habits as a result of bad peer influence.
