The Pharmacists Syndicate in Lebanon and the “JAD – Youth Against Drugs” association organized a conference entitled “Protecting society from addiction and combating the smuggling of medicines and all psychotropic substances,” in the syndicate’s lecture hall, under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, represented by the Minister of Interior and Municipalities in the caretaker government, Judge Bassam Mawlawi. .

The conference was attended by the representative of the Minister of Information in the caretaker government, Ziad Al-Makari, his advisor, Misbah Al-Ali, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, Major General Mohamed Al-Mustafa, the Financial Attorney General, Ali Ibrahim, the representative of the Director-General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, the head of the Central Narcotics Control Office, Lieutenant Colonel Ayman Mashmouchi, a representative. Acting Director General of Public Security, Major General Elias Al-Bisari, Major Pharmacist Alaa Eid, Governor of Baalbek-Hermel Bashir Khader, Head of the Pharmacists Syndicate, Joe Salloum, President of the Conference, Captain Maroun Al-Khouly, President of the “JAD” Association, Joseph Hawat, Head of the Dental Laboratories Syndicate, Walid Jaber, Brigadier Pharmacist, Ali Hussein, representing the medical profession. Military personnel in the Lebanese Army, head of the Catholic Schools Association, Father Youssef Nasr, medical and social figures and activists.

The conference included four main themes that focused on international cooperation and the exchange of intelligence information to combat drug smuggling networks, effective techniques for border control and goods inspection, the role of media and technology in prevention, family and community support systems for reintegration, harm reduction and treatment, as well as the biological and psychological factors that contribute to addiction. Treatment and awareness campaigns to reduce this dangerous scourge, as well as proposed solutions and development of legislation.

Ethiopian

Beginning with the national anthem and the anthems of the Pharmacists Syndicate and the “JAD” Association, then the media personality, Mary Al-Alam Habashi, presented the conference and stressed that “the phenomenon of addiction and drug smuggling reflects a dangerous reality that has become a direct threat on the health, social, economic and security levels.”

She pointed out that “this conference will constitute a real platform for exchanging experiences and information with the aim of developing strategies that include current laws, spreading awareness, and preserving the safety of society.”

Al-Kholy

Then Al-Khouli said: “The Lebanese reality forces us to confront it seriously, as addiction is increasingly spreading in our society, whether it is in terms of drugs, alcohol, or even other harmful behaviors. In parallel with this, Lebanon suffers from the problem of drug and medicine smuggling, which further exacerbates “The problem threatens our security and safety.”

He added: “Solving this problem requires joint and integrated efforts from all parties of society, so we are here in full representation as a state of civil society unions to build a resilient society, a society that understands, treats and ultimately prevents the harms of addiction and criminal networks that exploit weaknesses, starting with understanding the deep causes.” “To develop effective strategies and programs to confront them, this is not a simple endeavor.”

He continued: “Addiction is a complex problem with biological, psychological, and social roots, affecting individuals, families, and communities from all demographic, social, and economic backgrounds. But amidst this complexity, there is hope. Through a comprehensive approach – combining prevention, harm reduction, treatment, law enforcement, and rehabilitation.” Rehabilitation – we can build a society that not only provides protection, but truly supports it.”

He said: “The conference addresses understanding addiction and examining its biological, psychological and social factors, prevention and early intervention from community programs to family support, harm reduction and treatment, ensuring accessibility and affordability, law enforcement and prevention, reintegration and social support.”

He added: “This conference is not just about exchanging information, it is about actionable results. We will work together to develop concrete recommendations to make policy changes, develop laws and programs, and allocate resources. By bringing together researchers, doctors, law enforcement officials, individuals in recovery, policy makers, and leaders community, we can create a diverse and inclusive dialogue that fosters innovation and collaboration.”

He continued: “There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. We must embrace nuance and balance, and acknowledge the limitations of each approach while working to foster collaboration and innovation. Ultimately, our goal is to create a society that supports recovery, promotes well-being, It ensures equitable access to resources for all.”

Hawat

In turn, the head of the “JAD” Association praised the work of all security services that “achieve global achievements, and everyone bears witness to that,” stressing “the seriousness of this scourge that is destroying our youth,” calling for “Lebanon’s return to its previous state of knowledge and prosperity.” It developed, especially from the universities, institutes and hospitals that were the Middle East Hospital.”

He said: “We were proud of the national Lebanese industries in most countries of the world until we became a symbol of Captagon and drugs. Everyone’s efforts must be combined to combat drugs because they have become a major societal danger.”

Ibrahim

The Financial Public Prosecutor said: “Medicine is the reason for the continuation of the human element on this planet, and the more effective and quality the medicine is, the more the human element will continue. On the other hand, bad medicine poses a great danger to life.”

He added: “There is smuggling of medicine, whether by air, sea or land, and in Lebanon land smuggling is the most common and severe. The Financial Public Prosecution has many files and cases in this field, and there is constant cooperation with all the competent authorities and security agencies to control many medicine smuggling operations.” “.

He continued: “There are counterfeit and smuggled medicines in our pharmacies, and we call on their owners to refrain from buying and selling them to citizens. I also call on the Ministry of Public Health to play its role in the field of oversight, and it is carrying out its duties. Also, pharmaceutical inspection must take its full scope in this area, and the Syndicate Pharmacists play a major and effective role in maintaining the quality of medicine and its medical specifications.”

He said: “It is dangerous to find medicine that does not meet medical specifications in our homes and pharmacies because it harms us all.”

He added: “With regard to Syrian medicines that are available in abundance in Lebanon through legal and illegal crossings, and they are present in our pharmacies. I do not interfere in the quality of the goods, but every medicine must enter Lebanon through the competent health centers and be monitored by the Ministry of Public Health to ensure that it is It is safe and does not pose a danger to us. There are also counterfeit medicines from many sources and countries that arrived in Lebanon and were seized by the Financial Public Prosecution, and we will send them to the Ministry of Public Health to be destroyed.”

He called on “everyone, including doctors, pharmacists, the Ministry of Public Health, and all security agencies, to work together to reduce these dangerous scourges on our country and society.”

Salloum

For his part, the head of the Pharmacists Syndicate said: “Smuggled medicines are everywhere, in shops and on social media sites, the most dangerous of which are nerve medications, tranquilizers, and psychotropic substances, without any control or accountability. Lebanon is the third country that produces hashish after Afghanistan and the Arab Maghreb, in addition to the Captagon trade from Syria to Lebanon.” And from there to the world.”

He pointed out that “60 percent of drug users are between 16 and 35 years old, and this has become a scourge that has begun to spread throughout society, which portends a great danger to Lebanese youth.”

Mikati’s speech

As for the representative of the conference sponsor, he said: “We cannot be here in this circumstance that the country is going through with the fall of nine martyrs in Nabatieh, except to condemn the brutal massacres that target safe Lebanese civilians and all innocent people in Lebanon and the region.”

He added: “South Lebanon is the South of victory, and the steadfast will remain steadfast and will overcome the perpetrators of massacres and those addicted to murder. If we are fighting drugs, there are people who are addicted to shedding the blood of innocents. Lebanon will endure and the southerners will be victorious.”

He continued: “Today, based on our national responsibilities and protecting our society, we are present at this conference, and it is no secret that combating drug smuggling and its promotion has always been taken care of by the Ministry of Interior since we assumed our duties. The Lebanese security services, led by the anti-drug agencies, whether in the Anti-Narcotics Division of the Lebanese Customs or the Central Narcotics Control Division.” Or in the Information Division, they work conscientiously and patriotically, led by competent officers who work silently.”

He said: “We, in the security forces and security and military services, were able to confiscate very large quantities and millions of Captagon pills that were killing our Lebanese and Arab youth. Lebanon will not be a source of harm to its children and the Arab countries and will not destroy its society and friendly societies. It is committed to its role so that Beirut returns to be a beacon for the East, humanity and human rights.”

He added: “The issue of smuggling medicines and psychotropic substances, whether at home or abroad, is a sensitive issue and a major responsibility for building society that we all share. There are pharmacies and centers that engage in medical or paramedical professions by people whose certificates are not recognized and invalid and are not Lebanese, do not have experience and are not They have the necessary certificates, but it is an issue that harms the health of our people, hence the process of combating it in partnership with the security and judicial agencies, which are performing their role to the fullest.”

He continued: “The citizen’s responsibility is not to buy smuggled and unreliable medicine in order to save money, and thus the medicine is invalid and the citizen suffers from his health when he enters the cycle of diseases.”

He stressed that “building the state is a joint responsibility carried out by the public and private sectors in cooperation with the security and military services, which carry out their tasks despite all the country’s complexities.”

He pointed out that “society is based on four things: security, justice, health and education, upon which the state is established, the economy is revived, and projects flourish within the framework of national constants, the necessary national consensus, and faith in God because we are believers.”

He said: “Today, we are one step away from February 14, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a heinous crime. We remember this great man and this high and stature important person who united the Lebanese to build the state, and had a major role in bringing the Lebanese together and building institutions in the transition from civil war to peace.” Al-Ahly and national consensus, and to the stage of true reconciliation and the stage of building humanity and the Lebanese stone in dear Beirut, which the martyr president returned to its role, and with it returned the Lebanese to the idea of ​​uniting the state to defend the country, which is a unique message in the East.”

He concluded: “Lebanon’s salvation lies in the state and its legitimacy. We are suffering from major crises in the economy and state structure, and in stronger national consensus to protect the south and build the state.”

Shields

Then the Pharmacists Syndicate and the Jad Association honored Mawlawi and Ibrahim by presenting them with shields of appreciation.

In conclusion, the oath was read to the pharmaceutical graduates affiliated with the Pharmacists Syndicate.