Only one percent of scholarship students are believed to have abused drugs while studying outside the Kingdom, an official said. The Drug Combat Department hold regular awareness sessions, on the dangers of drugs and alcohol, for scholarship students before they leave the Kingdom, said Abdul Illah Al-Shareef, assistant director of the department for preventive affairs. “The department, however, does not require drug tests from students,” he said. During the awareness sessions, the students have always shown an understanding of the negative effects of drugs and alcohol, he said. – Okaz/SG The Kingdom has a strict ban on all types of alcohol and drugs. The foreign scholarship program has allowed more than 70,000 young Saudis to study abroad and be cultural envoys between Saudi Arabia and more than 25 countries. Women make up 17 percent of the students. The US alone has over 25,000 scholarship students, with 16,000 in Britain. Local authorities have registered 188 moral misdemeanors and immigration violations against the students. There have been a few incidents abroad with Saudi students involved in public intoxication and drunk driving.
