editorial comment “A 1981 United Nations study shows that drug use could be reduced as much as 30% by adopting stronger customs measures, while there could be a 70% reduction in public demand,” added Dr. Hamza.Nawal Al-Twaity. Hum, that adds up to a 100%. Great minds at work. The boat must be the Titanic....

In 1988, the United Nations declared June 26th International Anti-Drugs Day, aimed specifically at addressing the problems of users, traffickers, and producers of narcotics between the ages of 15 and 50.

According to the statistics supplied by the United Nations, drug users at the end of the twentieth century peaked at nearly 180 million people, of to which about 400 thousand are from the Arab World. Drug trafficking comes third only to arms and oil trafficking. The cost of fighting drugs and to treating addicts has reached nearly 120 billion dollars. According to this data, drugs are one of the most threatening and serious problems in the region.

In light of these statistics, the Interior Ministry Department for Fighting Drugs and Mental Effects in cooperation with Life Givers Foundation, and the Future Defenders Department organized the third annual anti-drug convention in Sana’a last Sunday.

On display were photographic exhibitions and samples of locally produced drugs such as hashish (canabis) and opium from the Ibb governorate, which is often given to children as a tranquilizer. At one time, the plant was easily obtained. The poppy plant used to be on sale at grocery or perfume stores. The show also included a display of trafficking methods used to use to hide narcotics and how police discover them.

“The drug problem is becoming more serious in schools, universities, and leisure centers as drugs traffickers target youth. They want to destroy morals and the mind and future of the nation. Spreading drugs among youth makes it easier to coerce them into terrorism and vice,” said Abdulmajeed Al-Khulaidee, deputy minister of health. He said there should be a law to control medicinal opium use for psychological patients.

The general manger of the Drugs Fighting Circle, Khaled Al-Rathee, said the battle against drugs requires a united effort from everyone: “Fighting drugs is not only the responsibility of government, but also society. It is one of the most complex and difficult issues that not only threatens lives but also the future and structure of the whole of society.”

The Drugs Fighting Circle was published in 2002 and works to prevent smuggling, promotion, and use of drugs through disseminating information and promoting measures that punish drug traffickers. The circle also works internationally to improve relations between Arab and foreign organizations and make use of their resources and experience.

Nabil Al-Saeedi, director of the Life Givers Foundation described the project as “by youth for youth.” “It relies,” he said, “on youth volunteers who have a desire to work and build society. We believe and trust in youth. They are the hope of the nation. They are half of our present and all of our future.”

The Yemeni Life Givers Foundation, established in March 2005, with permission from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, has additional branches in Aden, Taiz, Hadhramawt, Al-Hodeida, and Amran governorates.

“We hope the foundation’s projects will inspire the whole of Yemen, particularly the young and the unemployed, to participate and help construct the country’s future.”

Feras, a youth representative working at the foundation, said, “We are positive that we will be successful in building a brighter future, a future that relies on intelligent and hard working youth.”

The Future Defender project started with a five-day training course for 60 young people at risk, from the 3 to 7 April this year. The trainees will give lectures at universities, schools, and clubs on the subject of drugs and their destructive effects on health, society, and the economy.

On January 27 of this year, an agreement was signed between the UN regional bureau to combat drugs, Dubai police, and Right Start Foundation headed by Amr Khaled, a well-known preacher.


Dr Hamza Al-Sharjabii, the coordinator of Future Defender project, said that “The agreement states that Dubai Police, one of the most advanced anti-drug task forces in the world, will train 700 individuals from different countries (UK, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE and Yemen). The project is being supported by the UN regional bureau and plans to deter drug trafficking and reduce the demand for drugs.

“A 1981 United Nations study shows that drug use could be reduced as much as 30% by adopting stronger customs measures, while there could be a 70% reduction in public demand,” added Dr. Hamza.Nawal Al-Twaity, a Future Defender project participant.

He said that drug use was a personal decision and the result of many factors. “We want to participate in building our country, beginning with individual minds and by extending knowledge and awareness of what may put people’s health at risk or what may alter their minds. We want to protect the most valuable treasure we have, that is our youth and the next generation, who will be the essential elements in building and improving the nation. We should all stand together against drugs,” he said.

“The solution to the drugs problem is in our hands,” Al-Twaity declared. “It lies in education and the way we bring up our children. Families are still not as vigilant with their children as they should be, in terms of their behavior and the company they keep. Drugs are the result of a family structure in which parents neglect their roles as moral educators who should bring up ambitious children who go on to achieve their goals.”

All individuals need kindness and love from their parents to feel safe, and a home in to which to live. They need schooling and an awareness of morality, and they need society to give them a chance to learn and encourage them to participate in society

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