A third of the Saudi population is hooked to smoking despite the fact that Islam forbids using any substance that causes health hazards, Islamic scholars and prominent sportsmen in Makkah lamented.

Kifaya, a leading social organization working to combat drug/tobacco addiction, has come out with a series of programs to bring awareness of smoking hazards during the spring holidays. It held a seminar on Tuesday at King Abdulaziz Cultural Center in Abrug Al-Raghama where prominent personalities and Islamic scholars stressed the need to eradicate smoking.

Noted scholar Sheikh Abdul Waheed Al-Maghrabi said that smoking among Saudi youth was causing systematic destruction of the youth and posing serious challenges in terms of physical health and psychological condition of smokers.

“Health hazards related to smoking are well known. Smoking is a recognized risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Despite rejection of smoking by the Saudi community, we are still seeing smokers in our population,” he said.

Later, speaking to Arab News, Al-Maghrabi said: “Smoking is a health problem of Saudis that requires rapid intervention for eradication.”

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Othaim, president of Kifaya society, said addiction to drugs and smoking are destroying the future of youth in Jeddah, Makkah, Taif and Leith where "we have launched a series of awareness program.”

He said drugs and smoking lead to psychological problems among youth which is alarming. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to work for the eradication of these evil habits from society,” he added.

Al-Amal Hospital service director Sulaiman Al-Zaidi in his speech said: “Thirty percent of the population in the Kingdom is addicted to smoking and drug addiction is ruining several families in the Kingdom.”

Everyone should address the dangerous issue and all should make efforts to combat the menace, he said, adding: “The Kingdom is spending huge amounts toward rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts.”

Al-Ahli’s star footballer Mustafa Basais urged the youth to shun smoking and lead a healthier life. All football players are free from such habits which is one of the main reasons for their success in sports, he said.

The organizers displayed realistic models of lungs and other organs affected by smoking and drug addiction, which caught the attentions of the participants.