As part of a series of awareness seminars organized by the Education and Student Sector at Ain Shams University, the Faculty of Mass Communication hosted an awareness seminar titled "Drugs: Between Reality and Illusion." The seminar was held under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University.

The seminar was organized by the General Administration for Youth Welfare Office - Student Unions and Families Department and the Faculty of Mass Communication Student Union, under the supervision of Mr. Ibrahim Saeed Hamza, Assistant Secretary of the University for the Education and Student Sector, and in cooperation with the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Drug Abuse, headed by the Cabinet.

Prof. Heba Shaheen opened the symposium, noting that youth are Egypt's true wealth. She emphasized the importance of maintaining mental and physical health as a fundamental pillar of the nation's future.

She also emphasized the need to raise awareness about the dangers of addiction and its negative effects. She explained that living a healthy lifestyle, free from physical and mental illnesses, is the key to success and a guarantee of a safe and stable future.

Prof. Salwa Soliman, Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs, highlighted the university's commitment to enhancing students' awareness of the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and actively contributing to building a strong and healthy society. She highlighted the effectiveness of these seminars in supporting the state's efforts to combat addiction and enhance community awareness.

Dr. Rasha Mohamed Rashad, a researcher at the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Drug Abuse, chaired by the Cabinet, reviewed the importance of reducing demand for drugs as a commodity. She pointed to the implementation of preventive programs targeting university and school students, along with training courses aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of drugs and their health and behavioral harms.

She also highlighted the importance of media coverage and how to overcome inappropriate films and TV series that promote drugs.

She also emphasized the importance of psychological rehabilitation in the treatment process, explaining that the Fund for Combating Addiction provides free, confidential, 24-hour counseling and treatment services via the hotline 16023.

Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Mohamed, a forensic toxicology and drug expert, advisor to the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Drug Abuse, chaired by the Cabinet, and a member of the Supreme Council of the National Observatory for Addiction, pointed to the recent increase in the number of addicts, including a growing number of women.

He explained that drugs weaken the addict's willpower, driving them to seek them out without regard for their daily needs. This is in addition to their negative health repercussions and devastating impact on their families and social circles.

He emphasized that drugs have become the primary factor behind most crimes and accidents in recent times, noting their extreme danger to individuals and society.

He explained that the increased supply of drugs in recent years poses a major challenge to drug control efforts, necessitating enhanced community awareness of their dangers.

He emphasized that reducing demand for drugs begins with an individual's own conviction, as self-awareness and a true understanding of the dangers of addiction are the cornerstone of combating drug abuse.

He provided a detailed explanation of the types of drugs and their negative effects on physical and mental health, as well as the misconceptions associated with drug use, including the belief that it's a way to escape problems or enhance concentration and performance.

He also addressed the most important behavioral indicators that may reveal drug use, explaining that family and friends can recognize these signs and intervene early to protect their children.

The seminar included a screening of the dramatic film "4x6," which aims to educate students about the dangers of addiction in a realistic and impactful manner.