Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi (second left), Director-General of Public Security at the Ministry of Interior, with Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General-Manager of Katara (left), during the opening of the 1st Media forum at Katara yesterday. Pic: Abdul Bas
The Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs yesterday organised the first media forum to discuss and highlight the role of media on spreading information on risks of taking drugs.
The event organised by the committee in collaboration with General Directorate of Traffic and the Drugs Enforcement Department.
“The world today has become like a small village and people can communicate and exchange information in any place of the world; therefore the importance of media is increasing with every passing day. Media can help the cause of curbing crimes and drug use,” said Head of the committee, Director-General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi.
The forum was attended by Brigadier Mohammed Saad Al Kharji, Director of the General Directorate of Traffic, a number of officers from the ministry of interior, media persons and students.
“The media’s participation is very important because its messages reach to all segments of the society, and can raise awareness about the dangers of the drugs and alcohol,” Al Khulaifi added in his speech while inaugurating the forum. In a press statement, he noted that the Drugs Enforcement Department is making good efforts to seize drugs, and department is exchanging information in this field with many countries in the world in Africa, America, Europe and also with Interpol.
He said that the attendance of students was important because they could communicate the message among their friends and colleagues on harms of drugs.
“Taking and using drugs may cause traffic accidents, and also using some medicines which cause extensive drowsiness and some people may misuse them and that is why the traffic safety is very important,” Al Khulaifi noted adding that the use of social media had became important specially in the recent years to transfer news quickly “but the users must be sure about the credibility of news.” On the forum, the Drugs Enforcement Department also displayed cache of drugs seized by the department and also distributed awareness booklets.
For his part, Brigadier Al Kharji said that the traffic department is work to raise the awareness among traffic police to catch drugged drivers.
Commenting on the forum, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Radi Al Hajri, Director of Media and Awareness said that the media forum aims to urge and encourage mainstream and social media to raise awareness about drugs and the dangers associated with their use. Speakers at the event also emphasised on the importance of such events of enhancing cooperation between all media outlets.
The media have positive role in this side through awareness messages which should focus on the risks of using drugs and its negative effect on the individual and society.
