International day against drug abuse marked in Oman

Muscat: The Sultanate celebrated on Tuesday at Kempinski Hotel Muscat the International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, which falls on June 26 every year.
The celebration held under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Chairman of Public Authority for Radio & Television (PART) in the presence of Maj.Gen Hamad bin Suleiman Al Hatmi, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations along with a number of Undersecretaries, Walis and senior officials. The celebration, which was organised by the Executive Office of the National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (NCNPS), came this year under the theme: “Initiate: The Community Needs You”.

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Dr. Mahmoud bin Zahir Al Abri, NCNPS Supervisor, stated that the theme of this year highlights the importance of having an essential role to play in tackling the drugs problem, especially in the fields of prevention, rehabilitation, studies and researches.
Dr. Mahmoud bin Zahir Al Abri also added that a manual for preparation of awareness programmes in the field of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances has been developed as a basic reference for the government and private institutions and civil society organisations. During the celebration, a first version of the manual for preparation of awareness programmes in the field of drugs and psychotropic substances was launched.
The manual includes a definition and reasons of drugs and psychotropic substances, prevention methods, preparation of awareness programmes and the role of the concerned authorities in drugs awareness.
At the end of the celebration, the chief guest honoured the winning projects of the competition.
In first place was the project “My Health is in My Life – My Addiction is My Prison” for the Wilayat of Bausher.
The project of “Measuring the Awareness Level of the Parents on Drugs Risks” for the Wilayat of Al Amerat obtained the second place. The project of “A Society Free of Drugs” for the Wilayat of Liwa came in the third place.
While the projects of “Reducing the Spread of Drugs & Psychotropic Substances” for the Wilayat of Mirbat and “My Nation is Free of Drugs” for the Wilayat of Sohar obtained the fourth place.
In addition, the members of the awareness programmes were also honoured.
Awards were also given to a number of Wilayiats including Quriyat for the project of “An Aware Community without Drugs”, Saham for the project of “A Family without Drugs”, Ibri for the project of “Yes for Life...No for Drugs”, A’Suwaiq for the project of “Be Aware” and Sur for the project of “Tobacco & Drugs Control”.The chief guest toured the awareness exhibition that included the ten projects participating in the competition from various wilayats of the Sultanate.