Under the sponsorship of Professor Dr. Samira Naji Kazem, Dean of the College of Science for Women, the Continuing Education Unit, in cooperation with the Department of Physics, held a workshop titled “The Role of Women in Combating Drug Abuse within the Family”. The workshop took place in the conference hall and was presented by Pharmacist Rola Salman Kazem from the Ministry of Health, Lecturer Nyan Farid Majid, and Assistant Lecturer Rasha Saad from the Department of Physics. It was attended by a number of faculty members, staff, and students from various departments of the college.
The workshop began by defining drugs as a group of substances that cause addiction and poison the nervous system. The term “drug” refers to substances that impair the mind due to their chemical contents, which result in drowsiness, sleep, or loss of consciousness.
Regarding the types of drugs, they are either of natural origin, such as qat, opium, morphine, hashish, and cocaine, or of synthetic origin, such as heroin, as well as prescription pills and volatile solvents.
The concept of drug addiction was explained as a compulsive desire to continue using the drug or to obtain it by any means, often in increasing doses. This leads to both psychological and physical dependence and has harmful effects on both the individual and society.
As for how to detect the presence of an addict in the household, this can be identified by observing a range of traits or behaviors that appear in the addict, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, poor mood, depression, bruises on the arms, and frequent requests for money. All these occur due to weak religious commitment, personality disorders, curiosity, and family neglect, which leads to an escalation of events and the situation eventually spiraling out of control.
The workshop highlighted the significant role of women in protecting the family from this scourge. Women are seen as the pillar of the family, responsible for raising children with the proper education, instilling values and ethics, and encouraging honesty while avoiding bad company. It also emphasized the importance of building mutual trust with children and making them feel safe when facing problems, in order to address them and take control before it’s too late. This can be achieved through careful observation and follow-up, as a mother is often able to notice any changes in her children’s behavior that might indicate drug use or exposure to dangerous environments, allowing for early intervention.
The workshop included discussions and questions that were addressed by the lecturers.
