Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Science for Women, Professor Dr. Sameera Naji Khdim, the Scientific Affairs Division, in cooperation with the Department of Chemistry, organized a workshop entitled “Drug Abuse Among Girls: Causes and Prevention.” The workshop was presented by Dr. Ahlam Mohammed Farhan, Dr. Nafisa Jabbar Kazim, and Ms. Ruqayya Hashim Abdul Ghani. It was held in the Guest Hall with the attendance of a number of faculty members, staff, and female students.
The workshop addressed several key themes, including the definition of drugs and the concept of substance abuse, in addition to examining the psychological and social factors underlying this phenomenon and presenting preventive approaches. The lecturers emphasized that drug abuse is among the most serious social and health problems facing societies, due to its direct impact on the central nervous system, leading to alterations in mood, perception, and behavior.
The workshop further explored the causes of drug abuse. Psychological factors included anxiety, depression, psychological stress, low self-esteem, and escapism from family problems. Social factors encompassed peer influence, family disintegration, weak parental supervision, and the imitation of behaviors that are alien to societal norms.
Within the framework of preventive strategies, the workshop presented a set of recommendations, most notably intensifying awareness programs within educational institutions to highlight the dangers and negative effects of drugs, strengthening the role of the family in monitoring and guidance and in building trust with children, and supporting girls’ mental health through psychological counseling and providing a safe environment for dialogue. It also emphasized the importance of activating cultural and sports activities to promote the constructive use of leisure time, enhancing cooperation among educational, health, and security institutions to curb the spread of this phenomenon, and utilizing media outlets and social media platforms to disseminate purposeful awareness messages.
The workshop concluded by stressing the importance of collective societal efforts to address this issue and of building an informed generation capable of confronting challenges while maintaining its health and well-being.
