Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The crucial role of families in safeguarding children was highlighted during an open dialogue session organised by the Family Care Authority (FCA), marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed annually on June 26.
The session, titled "Prevention is a Shared Responsibility: Towards an Aware Family and a Drug-Safe Community" and held at Khalifa A Municipal Presence Centre, brought together representatives from government entities, alongside experts and specialists in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
Asma Al Azri, Executive Director of the Family Cases Sector at the Family Care Authority, emphasised that addressing the risks posed by drugs requires close collaboration between families, educational institutions, law enforcement, healthcare providers and social services.
She noted that strengthening community awareness, promoting early intervention, and equipping families with the right knowledge and support they need are key pillars of prevention and protection of future generations.
Dr Alia Al Jasmi, Director of Care Homes Department at the Family Care Authority, said: "Family represents the first line of defence against addiction."
She also outlined the specialised services provided by the Authority, including halfway houses and after-care services to support individuals in recovery and facilitate their reintegration into society.
Major Youssef Hassan Al Hammadi from the Anti-Narcotics Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters discussed the importance of security and community partnerships in protecting children from drug-related risks.
Colonel Dr Ahmed Al Ali from Zayed University then addressed strategies for building awareness among students, underscoring the critical role educational institutions play in promoting prevention.
Dr Mohammed Al Junaibi, Head of the Psychiatry Department at the National Rehabilitation Centre – Abu Dhabi, concluded the speaker presentations by highlighting treatment and rehabilitation pathways that support a smooth transition from recovery to community reintegration.
Family at the Centre Awareness Efforts
In an interview with Aletihad on the sidelines of the session, Dr Fatima Al Dhaheri, Awareness Section Head - Acting Counselling & Integration Sector, stated that the authority places family at the centre its awareness efforts, providing programmes for various social segments to qualify parents and children with appropriate guidance according to their ages.
"We have a number of awareness programmes targeting different groups. Our target audiences include families, children, adolescents, as well as the authority's beneficiaries. These programmes are designed according to the needs of each group."
She added that educating children and young people from an early age is one of the most powerful means to curtail risks in the future and that prevention is stronger when it is accompanied by awareness before harmful practices take root.
"Awareness is extremely important. We start from schools and from an early stage because the earlier awareness begins, the more effective prevention becomes. As I always say, prevention is better than cure."
The Authority is also providing specialised services such as halfway houses and after-care services to assist individuals in recovery and to serve as a bridge for them to re-enter the community.
Al Dhaheri said early awareness was not only a matter of informing but also of making parents aware of the first signs that a child is being exposed to drugs.
She said that a child's behaviour, social interactions or level of academic achievement can all be indicators, and that families who receive those signals have a chance to step in before things get worse.
"If we identify these signs early, we are better able to help that person and support their family in overcoming the challenge."
According to Al Dhaheri, parents should not see themselves simply as observers, but as active partners in prevention, awareness and recovery.
"We place great importance on parents because we consider the family a partner in treatment, a partner in prevention and a partner in awareness," she concluded.
