Abu Dhabi: A bus ride initiative launched by the Abu Dhabi Police in 2016 to create public awareness about the dangers of drugs, has reached out to hundreds of people and institutions.
Targeting educational institutions, community councils, youth circles and shopping centres, the ‘Bader Bus’ initiative, which was launched 27 months ago in 2016, has organised more than 150 lectures, heightening the awareness of drug abuse among more than 2,180 people.
The Bader Bus tours reached more than 783 people in the first nine months of this year, while some 974 benefited from it in 2017, and 423 people in 2016.
Colonel Taher Ghareeb Al Daheri, Director of the Drug Control Directorate of the Abu Dhabi Police, said the Bader Bus is designed from the inside in a geometrical style, suitable for classrooms, and is equipped with displays, photos, pamphlets, awareness leaflets, tools and samples explaining modes of smuggling and promotion of drugs, and methods of combating them.
Al Daheri highlighted the importance of Bader Bus in keeping abreast of the developments for a drug-free environment that reduces the scourge of abuse and addiction. The bus can accommodate 15 people in each lecture held inside and can also broadcast educational and awareness programs, suitable for different age groups and community segments to illustrate ways to prevent and avoid the scourge of drugs.
“The Bader Bus initiative focuses on educating school and university students, shoppers at malls, participants at community and youth councils, and other activities. The initiative provides the same services when requested by government institutions concerned with drug control and awareness-raising,” Al Daheri added.
The Bader Bus is overseen by a team of qualified lecturers from the Abu Dhabi Police officers and staff. They are tasked with teaching the targeted group the skills they need to deal with signs of abuse and the negative consequences of falling into the quagmire of addiction, and to familiarise them with the scourge of drugs and its various damages.
