A Lecture on Anti Drugs and Alternative Agriculture in Lebanon held at BAU

Believing in transmitting the message of awareness among youth and spreading a full and adequate information about drugs and its severe consequences, Beirut Arab University, and for the second consecutive year organized a lecture about fighting drugs entitled: “Anti- Drugs and Alternative Agriculture in Lebanon”.
 
The lecture was presented by the Colonel Adel Machmouchi, Head of the Anti- Drug Office in Lebanon, and was run by Prof. Dr. Hassan Hallak, Professor and Lecturer at Faculty of Arts at Beirut Arab University.
The lecture which was held on the 14th of November 2012 at Jamal Abdul Nasser Hall, was attended by
Mr. Bashir Morad, representative of MP Mr. Sami El Gemaiel, Mr. Mohamed Kassem, The Advisor at the Egyptian Embassy, Brigadier Tarik Hamed Siddik, Head of the Egyptian Hospital, Judge Fawzy Adham, President of the Criminal Court in Bekaa, Deans of BAU Faculties, staff-members, Mrs. Zina Ariss, Director of Public Relations Administration, in addition to a large crowd of students and people interested.

After playing the Lebanese and the University anthems, Prof. Hassan Hallak welcomed Colonel Machmouchi, praising the latter’s efforts and the efforts of the Anti- Drug Office in Lebanon in purging the Lebanese society of this ailment. Then Mashmoushy took the floor, thanking the University for hosting the event.

Explaining and elaborating the ways of addicting and trafficking; their effects and demerits in health on both the psychological and the social terms; Machmouchi maintained that drug dealers and addicts aim to undermine the sovereignty of the state to facilitate their tasks. He pointed out that drug abuse is related to bad habits, most prominently sexual promiscuity, crimes, exchanging syringes which may lead to hefty health prices. He also spoke of the economic disadvantages of this ailment, explaining that these often translate into the bankruptcy of institutions.

Machmouchi focused on the social disadvantages of drug abuse. He emphasized that these are not limited to the individual, but lead to family disintegration, linking the reasons for addiction to the curiosity for experience and the illogical pretext of facing problems. He further stressed that addition is a kind of suicide.

As for the preventive measures to be taken, Machmouchi pointed out that they consist of two aspects. The first is counselling and as such is concerned with the addict’s family members. The second is medical and as such specializes in actual cases of addiction. He called for more effective preventive measures to reduce the smuggling and trafficking of drugs. He further drew attention to the spread of drugs in schools, pointing out that there is much reliance on educated university youth to put an end to this ailment.

As for alternative agriculture, Machmouchi pointed out that it is a first step on the road to achieve sustainable and balanced development. This can be achieved through rural development to reduce migration to the cities and their subsequent overcrowding. Hence the possibilities of drug abuse and trafficking are reduced.

Machmouchi then presented pictures that demonstrated means of trafficking and smuggling drugs, explaining to the students in detail how raids are carried out and how trafficking networks are arrested. The lecture concluded with a discussion with the students.