Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Dentistry, Professor Dr. Raghad Abdul Razzaq Muhammad,
The College of Dentistry at the University of Baghdad organized a continuing education course titled “Drugs and Their Effects: From Awareness to Prevention and Recovery.” The course was attended by a number of faculty members from the college.
The course aimed to educate participants about the concept of drugs, their harms, and their impact on mental health and the immune system, as well as methods of prevention and treatment.
The course also included the following topics:
1. Defining drugs and their effects on the nervous system, as well as identifying the most vulnerable youth groups.
2. Types of drugs and their negative effects on public health.
3. The relationship between drug use, immunosuppression, and increased risk of infection.
4. Recovery from addiction and the process of achieving a drug-free and healthy life.
The session recommended the importance of:
1. Enhancing religious education and moral values among youth as a first line of defense, in addition to the family’s role in monitoring, communicating with, and following up on children, and activating the role of schools and universities in spreading awareness and educating about the dangers of drugs.
2. Taking the initiative to seek counseling and treatment, regardless of the stage of addiction.
3. Supporting treatment and rehabilitation centers and providing them free or at low cost to youth.
4. Recovery from drug abuse includes addressing both mental and physical health. While addiction treatment often focuses on behavioral and psychological aspects, it is essential to consider the body’s recovery, particularly restoring immune function.
