Pubdate: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 Source: Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) Copyright: 2004 Gulf Daily News. Contact: http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2979 Author: Toby Auld DRUG AWARENESS DRIVE IN SCHOOLS Children will be taught about the dangers of drugs in school as part of a national effort to combat rising levels of addiction.Plans are underway to update Bahrain's curriculum with a comprehensive drug awareness programme, according to a senior health official. Under the scheme, parents will also be taught about the dangers of drugs, said Health Ministry school health co-ordinator Dr Mariam Al Mulla Harmas. They will also learn how to spot whether their child is using illegal substances. "Children need to be educated about the dangers and effects of drugs so that they can deal with possible peer pressure or a curiosity to try drugs," said Dr Harmas. "But we must also educate parents because they need to know the signs of drug abuse, as well as the fact that drugs are around in schools and in certain social groups." The new programme aims to help reduce demand on Bahrain's drug treatment service through prevention. The GDN has already reported how the Almoayyed Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit, at the Psychiatric Hospital, is overloaded with new cases of heroin addicts. The number of new cases at the centre quadrupled between 2002 and 2003. Meanwhile, the latest statistics show that around one third of the world's population is addicted to some form of drug. One drug often overlooked is tobacco, according to Hoora Health Centre family physician and health committee head Dr Kawthar Al Eid. Smoking is said to be by far the biggest killer, with one in three smokers contracting heart disease or lung cancer. "Young people are the future and we want to help them to stop smoking and lead healthier lives," said Dr Al Eid. Last week, a call went out to stop people smoking in government offices. The practice was banned by an Amiri Decree in 1994, but Muharraq Municipal Council legislative and financial affairs committee chairman Majeed Karimi says many people are still ignoring it. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin