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Ain Shams University’s Faculty of Specific Education hosted a seminar entitled “How to Protect Ourselves from the Dangers of Addiction and Substance Abuse”, as part of a series of awareness seminars organized by the General Administration for Youth Welfare under the Education and Student Affairs Sector, and under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University. The event was held with the support of Prof. Osama El-Sayed, Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education, and under the supervision of Mr. Ibrahim Saeed Hamza, Assistant Secretary of the University for Education and Student Affairs, in collaboration with the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Substance Abuse affiliated with the Egyptian Cabinet.

The seminar featured speakers Dr. Rasha Mohamed Rashad, a researcher at the Fund and the university’s coordinator for preventive programs, and Dr. Badr Abdel Aziz, Director General of Legal Affairs at the Fund.

Dr. Rasha Rashad emphasized the critical role of the family as the first line of defense in protecting children from drugs, through understanding the nature of the problem, early detection, and prevention strategies. She highlighted the importance of the Fund’s 24-hour hotline (16023), which provides treatment, social rehabilitation, and consultation services. She also stressed the media’s role in raising public awareness of the dangers of addiction.

In addition, she addressed the social dimensions of addiction and outlined the Fund’s preventive activities, both direct and indirect, including the hotline for anonymous reporting and continuous support. She also discussed the risks of peer pressure and misuse of prescription drugs without medical consultation, as well as signs that may indicate substance abuse within a family and how to address them.

Dr. Badr Abdel Aziz discussed the legal aspects of Egypt’s drug control laws, highlighting key changes and developments in the new legislation. He explained the legal implications of drug use, including being present at a site of substance abuse, facilitating such an environment, and mere possession of narcotics. He also outlined the new therapeutic system under the law, which allows for addicted individuals to be referred to treatment centers instead of facing criminal penalties.

Notably, the seminar was also interpreted in sign language to accommodate students with hearing impairments. At the conclusion of the seminar, an open discussion was held with students. The event also featured the screening of a short film titled “4x6”, produced by the Fund for Combating Addiction, starring Sawsan Badr and Mahmoud Abdel-Moghny, which follows a character’s journey from addiction to recovery, highlighting the vital role of media and drama in addressing and combating addiction, with reference again to the Fund’s hotline (16023).