Panel to look into psychiatric drug abuse

A committee comprising specialists from the Ministry of Health and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control has been formed to discuss the increase in the abuse of psychiatric drugs.
Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said that the committee will examine this phenomenon and make recommendations.
This came in a press statement following his visit yesterday to the General Directorate of Narcotics in Riyadh, where Brig. Othman bin Nasser Al-Muhraj welcomed him.
Al-Muhraj said the visit comes within the framework of cooperation and coordination between the two government bodies. He added that the directorate is keen to communicate with authorities in the war against drugs. The minister toured the exhibition at the directorate, highlighting methods of drug trafficking and the quantities of drugs seized in recent years.
Al-Muhraj briefed him and his accompanying delegation about the functioning of the command and control center at the directorate as they examine international drug trafficking lines and research laboratory results. They also saw samples of various types of drug seizures, their components and structures and the multiple harmful effects on physical and psychological health.
Al-Rabeeah praised the awareness and preventive programs carried out by the directorate and their partners in order to educate people about the damaging effects of drugs.
The health minister also noted the achievements of the anti-drug teams in tackling narcotics gangs and how they recently foiled the smuggling of more than six million amphetamine tablets in Riyadh.
He stressed that officers work around the clock with professionalism, adding that collaboration between the NCD and the Ministry of Health is extensive.
Al-Muhraj presented the minister with a shield as a mark of appreciation.