RIYADH, 28 September 2007 — Pointing out that some Saudi families are unable to recognize the symptoms of drug addiction among their children, a survey conducted by Saudi TV2 has stressed the need for a holistic approach to address the problem of the growing substance-abuse phenomenon among children.
Speaking to Arab News, Dr. Parissa Alhashem, a clinical psychologist, said her survey underlined the need for a holistic approach involving the education of children and families as well as support groups comprising clergies, teachers, social workers, ex-addicts and doctors.
According to Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Ayed Al-Radadi, an average of 2,500 youths have been sent to juvenile detention centers in Riyadh alone in a year — a sign of an increase in youth crime in the Kingdom.
Al-Radadi believes that in the absence of “real and carefully studied programs” in schools, warning youngsters of the consequences of drug abuse through oft-repeated slogans would be of no avail.
Parissa said that without such an approach it would be difficult to deal with the problem of drug addiction among students. The starting point of this exercise, she explained, should be the launch of a government-funded program within the education system to raise the level of awareness of drug-related issues among the children and families.
“Running classes as part of the school curriculum with expert instructors is just as important as other classes due to the fact that students can apply this knowledge in their lives,” said Parissa, who has published many socio-cultural articles dealing mainly with domestic violence, addiction, child abuse, honor killings, etc. She also interviewed many internationally acclaimed cultural and political figures on these topics.
She said that one way of enhancing their level of awareness was by getting these children to participate in the drawing competition or exposing them to educational films, good video programs, organizing seminars, etc.
Equally important, Parissa said, is the involvement of the family. “One of the most important dynamics within the holistic approach is for all members of a family to be educated on this subject. Family members can keep themselves abreast of the problems in dealing with substance abuseby learning about addiction as well as the type of drug (illegal or prescribed) and the consequences of drug abuse.
This way it would be possible to empower the families and society as a whole in tackling the drug issue. Parissa said an important component of this multi-pronged strategy should be to organize an orientation program covering such topics as: Drug addiction — how to recognize the symptoms; shift in behavior and attitude; incoherent thinking; drop in school performance; suspicious behavior and conduct; and moral decline.
She said that besides the family involvement, it is equally important to mobilize the support group consisting of former drug addicts and social workers, to lend emotional support to the victim of drug abuse. Mosques could also play an important role in raising the level of awareness of society in this regard.
In the absence of a holistic approach, piecemeal approach to solve the problem would not be of much avail. “That’s why we have come across cases of relapse after the victim had been admitted to Al-Amal Hospital,” she added.
