HOFOUF, Ahsa — An average of 161 drug-related cases reach courts in the Kingdom each day, according to a recent report by the National Commission for Drug Control.
The report also mentioned that in the last three years, the drug control officers seized over 100 tons of marijuana, 120 kilograms of heroin, 543 tons of cocaine and 219 million amphetamine pills, while the number of drug-related cases registered during the period reached more than 112,700.
The report was presented at the inauguration of the Nibras program by Ahsa Gov. Prince Badr Bin Mohammed Al-Jaluwi.
Secretary-General of the National Commission for Drug Control and Chairman of the National Project Management of Drug Prevention (Nibras) Abdullah Al-Sharif said security services and border personnel in the Kingdom stopped more than 15 million amphetamine pills from being smuggled into the country recently.
"In the past two years, we confiscated 166 million narcotic pills and 59 tons of marijuana. The statistical figures confirm the existence of enemies scheming to ruin our country's youth making them drug addicts," Al-Sharif said.
Samir Al-Harbi of SABIC said the company was currently working with the Ministry of Health to establish the SABIC Specialist Hospital for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment in Riyadh to provide specialized health services for people with mental illness and suffering from drug addiction.
"SABIC is working to create a rehabilitation center for psychological rehabilitation and help individuals before sending them back in the community. We are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the province of Diriyah," Al-Harbi said.
The governor of Al-Ahsa confirmed that the project will run for five years and that this would be the first stage.
"It takes the local, regional and international dimensions to create a drug-free society in the Kingdom. We must create a culture of prevention to enhance positive values and support young people and provide a variety of services," he said.
Al-Harbi said Nibras was the fruit of multiple initiatives launched by SABIC in the field of corporate social responsibility to combat drug addiction.
"Our strategic partnership with the National Commission for Drug Control is important to implement all programs and stages in which the Nibras program grows and creates the social change we want to see in our community," he said.
