ALKHOBAR: Young people are not aware of the danger to their health of taking drugs including the fact that they contain further dangerous substances such as glass, various metals and bacteria.

This is according to the Regional Poison Control Center, which said that these factors have caused a rise in deaths among addicts, a local publication reported recently.

Maha Al-Mazrou’, director of the center in the Eastern Province health department, said a recent study has found that 27 percent of young Saudis do not know the difference between various drugs, and 34 percent are unaware of the effect drugs have on the brain and nervous system.

The study, involving 9,074 young men and women across the Kingdom, reported that 26 percent of respondents believed there were no drug awareness campaigns in the country, with 7.6 percent saying there was no education at all on drug abuse, 23 percent saying there was some education, and 21 percent saying campaigns were adequate.

The study also sought the views of 150 researchers and educators, with 43 percent saying they experienced challenges in their work related to drugs including poor planning, and lack of a proper methodology.

There was also poor training, too few people working in the field, inadequate information centers, unqualified personnel, lack of new scientific research, and too little funds

According to the study, television companies allocate on average 16 percent of their airtime to educating people about drugs, and newspapers 16 percent. In terms of education, schools allocate 19 percent of their curricula and universities 17 percent.

Regarding the consequences and reasons for taking drugs, the study revealed that 45 percent of addicts think there are no health concerns, 44 percent said drugs helped them become more sociable and 50 percent said that they used substances purely for recreation and pleasure.

In addition, 18 percent of addicts become addicted by befriending other addicts, 20 percent through friends, 30 percent through neighbors and 22 percent through drug dealers.

The study recommended that proper plans be devised to coordinate government and private sector efforts, including the Ministry of Finance allocating a special budget for education and other purposes.

Maithaa Al-Qahtani, director of the female section at the Anti-Drug Department in the Eastern Province, said that the biggest challenge facing everyone was how to deal with addition. The education sector had the most important role to play, she said.