Action Group – Rural Damascus
An awareness lecture held in the Sayyida Zeinab camp in rural Damascus highlighted the importance of strengthening community-based drug prevention and raising awareness of its dangers, considering it one of the most prominent challenges threatening young people and impacting social stability within residential communities.
The lecture, titled “Drugs… Analysis and Solutions,” was sponsored by the Rural Damascus Directorate of Religious Endowments and organized by the Zaid bin Thabit Charitable Foundation, in cooperation with the Council of Elders and the Community Development Committee in the Sayyida Zeinab camp. It was hosted by the Sayyidna Mudrik al-Fazari Mosque and presented by Sheikh Dr. Musa Salama, with the attendance of a number of specialists and those interested in community affairs.
*Serious effects*
The lecturer, Dr. Musa Salameh, addressed the concept of drug abuse and its serious health and social consequences, distinguishing between the legitimate medical use of certain medications under medical supervision and substance abuse and addiction, along with their resulting individual and societal harms.
Dr. Salameh also presented a set of proposals to curb the spread of drugs, including expanding awareness programs in schools, places of worship, and local councils; establishing specialized centers for the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts; enhancing research related to the phenomenon; activating the role of media in disseminating preventative messages; and supporting legal measures aimed at combating drug trafficking.
The lecture included a discussion on the importance of integrating the roles of official institutions and community initiatives in addressing this phenomenon, with emphasis placed on the fact that prevention and awareness are fundamental pillars in reducing drug use, especially among young people.
The event concluded by emphasizing the need to continue awareness activities and strengthen efforts to protect society from the dangers of drugs, and to support treatment and rehabilitation programs as part of the community’s response to this phenomenon.