Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Drug Enforcement Directorate (DED) has appointed 100 Saudi women in various ranks, according to the head of women's affairs in the directorate, Amal Khashoggi. The female inspectors will accompany raid teams and will be tasked with frisking women suspects, she added. Khashoggi stressed that more drug awareness campaigns should be launched in all regions and villages, and people who do not have access to modern technology should be educated about the menace of drugs through other means. The drug issue is a major one as addiction cases are on the increase despite that fact the directorate has launched many campaigns to curb this menace, she noted. Over 93 lectures were given to student counselors in different parts of the Kingdom while 21 workshops were organized for students and government officials as well as university faculty members, all for raising public awareness of the danger of drugs. She said many female students still inquire about energy drinks and their effects if mixed with medicament not classified as drugs or obtained without prescription. She added that drug addiction among children was low and not alarming. “It's essential to review the medications that have strong psychological influence and can be bought easily at any pharmacy. Pharmacies should be monitored,” said Khashoggi. Director of prevention affairs at the directorate Hana Al-Feraih said the second regional anti-drug symposium will be held in Riyadh next month in conjunction with the United Nations. More than 26 Arab countries and five global organizations will attend the symposium. The focus will be on the role of family in preventing children from drugs from medical and psychological perspectives, the effect of social networking sites on children, the role of the media in fighting this menace, and strategic plans to combat it.
