Prof. Dr. Sherif Fakhry Mohamed Abdelnaby, the President of the Egyptian Russian University in Cairo in Badr City, announced that the university is organizing the “Awareness Youth Campaign” for the fourth year in a row, during the cultural season inside the university campus. He clarified that this campaign falls under the framework of the cultural and social awareness activities in the university, with the aim of enhancing the role of youth towards a positive and effective participation in making the community aware of the dangers of smoking and drug addiction on individuals and society.

The University President added that the goal of such campaigns is to refine students’ personality and help them acquire skills and experiences, as well as qualifying them to encounter current and future challenges in their social and practical life.

In the same context, Prof. Dr. Hanaa Abdelrahman, the Leader of Student Activities in the Egyptian Russian University, confirmed that students are the active force that represents the backbone and the basis for the future of the Egyptian State and the hope for a bright tomorrow. Therefore, they should hold a clear footprint in their society in order to ameliorate. She explained that university students are the main element in social awareness and that the Awareness Youth Campaign for this year continues in the period from 1 to 11 November. The campaign’s events also include sports activities to reflect the great role of sports as an important element to build a balanced and active personality that is capable of enduring burdens and facing hurdles. 

The Leader of the Student Activities in the Egyptian-Russian University further stated that the campaign includes interactive seminars inside the university as well as visits to some schools in Badr and Shorouk Educational Districts and some factories in Badr City. This helps in activating the social role and commitment to the social responsibility of the university. Such campaigns and seminars also will avail the upsurge of students’ awareness towards the dangers of smoking and drug abuse.

From his side, Dr. Ibrahim Askar, the General Director of the Preventive Programs in the Fund for Drug Control and the Treatment of Addiction, explicates his happiness for being inside the Egyptian-Russian University and among its students for the fourth year in a row. He pointed out that the importance of this campaign to the youth lies in introducing them to the importance of the next stage in their future as well as the huge impediments that they can face. He added that the issue of combating drug abuse and addiction is a national issue that should be tackled to protect youth from falling into the clutches of addiction.   

Along the same line, Dr. Mohamed Mostafa, Forensic Expert at the Ministry of Justice and Supervisor of Drug Detection Campaigns, spoke about the dangers of all types of drugs, saying that drugs do not affect the addict only, but their effects extend to inflicting social and economic damage to those around him. He explained that the most imperative means of combating drugs is not only through security by preventing drug dealers from displaying them, but the best way is to combat the demand for drugs by raising awareness among youth about their dangers and harms and their repercussions on their lives, families, and society. Hence, the importance of such campaigns and educational and awareness-raising seminars is made explicit.

From her side, Ms Amira Ragab, Assistant Supervisor in managing preventive programs at the Fund for Drug Control and the Treatment of Addiction, pointed out that among the goals of the Fund are “raising awareness of the dangers of drug abuse and addiction among society groups, assisting in issuing and amending laws in relation to the issues of drug abuse and addiction, intensifying media campaigns and activating the media observatory, conducting early detection and analysis, and strengthening international cooperation and exchanging experiences in the fields of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation”. She further stated that the Fund offers medical services for free and in a fully confidential setting through the hotline 16023, in addition to 22 hospitals all over Egypt which provide rehabilitation, treatment, and support services.