DRUG AWARENESS DRIVE IN SCHOOLS

Children will be taught about the dangers of drugs in school as part
of a national effort to combat rising levels of addiction.Plans are
underway to update Bahrain's curriculum with a comprehensive drug
awareness programme, according to a senior health official.

Under the scheme, parents will also be taught about the dangers of
drugs, said Health Ministry school health co-ordinator Dr Mariam Al
Mulla Harmas.

They will also learn how to spot whether their child is using illegal
substances.

"Children need to be educated about the dangers and effects of drugs
so that they can deal with possible peer pressure or a curiosity to
try drugs," said Dr Harmas.

"But we must also educate parents because they need to know the signs
of drug abuse, as well as the fact that drugs are around in schools
and in certain social groups."

The new programme aims to help reduce demand on Bahrain's drug
treatment service through prevention.

The GDN has already reported how the Almoayyed Drug and Alcohol
Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit, at the Psychiatric Hospital, is
overloaded with new cases of heroin addicts.

The number of new cases at the centre quadrupled between 2002 and
2003.

Meanwhile, the latest statistics show that around one third of the
world's population is addicted to some form of drug.

One drug often overlooked is tobacco, according to Hoora Health Centre
family physician and health committee head Dr Kawthar Al Eid.

Smoking is said to be by far the biggest killer, with one in three
smokers contracting heart disease or lung cancer.

"Young people are the future and we want to help them to stop smoking
and lead healthier lives," said Dr Al Eid.

Last week, a call went out to stop people smoking in government
offices.

The practice was banned by an Amiri Decree in 1994, but Muharraq
Municipal Council legislative and financial affairs committee chairman
Majeed Karimi says many people are still ignoring it.