The College of Dentistry at the University of Baghdad, in cooperation with Al‑Rashad Teaching Hospital for Psychiatric and Mental Diseases, organized an awareness symposium entitled “The Dangers of Addiction and Drugs on the Health of the Individual and Society.” The lecture was delivered by Dr. Hussein Majid Balsam, Psychiatrist, with the attendance of Dr. Hussam Mohammed Saeed, Assistant Dean for Administrative Affairs, and Dr. Hussein Shaker Al‑Tamimi, Director of Training and Research at Al‑Rashad Hospital, along with several college students.
The symposium aimed to shed light on the dangers of addiction and drugs, their negative impact on the mental and physical health of individuals, and their social consequences that threaten community stability. It also sought to enhance health awareness among youth and highlight the role of educational and health institutions in preventing this scourge.
The symposium addressed several key themes, including:
- The health, psychological, and social effects of drug use.
- Factors leading to addiction.
- Methods of prevention and treatment.
- The importance of early awareness and promoting positive behaviors within the university community.
The symposium recommended the following:
- Intensifying awareness programs within universities.
- Strengthening cooperation between educational and health institutions.
- Encouraging students to adopt healthy lifestyles.
- Activating the role of psychological counseling to reduce addiction and its risks.
