Bahrain observes International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain yesterday joined hands with world nations in observing the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with the Kingdom pledging to remain unflinching in its determination to achieve the goal of a drug-free society.
“Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives” is the theme of this year’s event, which the UN General Assembly decided to observe every year on 26 June from 7 December 1987.
Supported each year by individuals, communities, and various organisations, this global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society. Bahrain said it attaches great importance to the fight against drugs through an integrated national plan which includes active community partnership initiatives.
The Ministry of Interior, led by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior, accomplished several achievements in combating drugs and protecting the community.
In a message marking the day, Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, said, “It is an opportunity to stress the importance of taking responsibility to tackle the issue.”
“Fighting narcotics starts from the family, as parents should have the required information to answer their children’s inquiries and face wrong information.” On the “Maan” programme against violence and addiction, the minister said it benefited 4,365 students in 58 schools in the past six months.
The minister said that work continues for the national project to monitor, analyse, and increase drug addiction recoveries through artificial intelligence. Work is also continuing to issue the second edition of the National Anti-Drug Plan, “after the remarkable success of the first edition that reaches 97% of its goals in cooperation of 35 partners from all ministries,” said the minister. “At the international level, Bahrain has won the membership of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
This position allows the country to participate in global decision-making. “During the past two years, it has also won the best anti-drug information field cooperation award by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers.
In addition to its prominent role in the GCC anti-drug efforts,” the minister added. The ministry, through the Drug Enforcement Administration within the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Evidence, and in cooperation with security agencies and community partnership, completed 257 initiatives or 97% of the objectives of the National Anti-Drug and Psychotropic Substances plan is in its first phase since its launch on 25 June 2015.
In 2020, the ministry seized 116 kilogrammes of narcotic substances and 6,000 pills from 729 cases involving 284 drug dealers and 519 users. There were 1,559 cases in 2018 and 1,547 in 2019.
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