The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sharjah has launched an anti-drug campaign to educate and enable people of the United Emirates to reject illicit drugs.

The goal is to prevent drug use, treat addicts and coordinate with anti-drug agencies in the country, said Dr. Mohamed al-Hourani.

“This is not a campaign in the traditional sense. It is a strategically organized long-term campaign with close association with the community," Dr. al-Hourani said.

The college has organized an anti-drug symposium in which numerous civic organizations, including police departments, took part. The symposium was an opportunity for specialists to deliver papers and take part in specialized panels.

“The papers presented tackled impact of drugs on the community, including the U.A.E. We are looking forward to conducting comprehensive surveys to determine the use and spread of drugs in the country," said Dr. Alaa al-Tai.

Dr. al-Hourani said the research on the use of drugs in the U.A.E. was sparse. “There are gaps in the literature, data and rates of addiction."

However, he said rates of relapse, or a return to drug use after recovery, were high.

“The reason for the high rate of relapse is not known … the campaign is necessary to fill in all the gaps," Dr. al-Hourani added.

Al-Hourani said rehabilitation centers in the U.A.E. report a 70% relapse rate following recovery.

The college has set up a new website specifically dedicated to anti-drug education.

“The website offers advice on any drug-related issue," he added. “We have in place rehabilitation programs administered by specialists and run tests to ascertain recovery."

The college has issued no statistics on the use of drugs in the U.A.E. or rate of addiction among the country's young population.

Al-Hourani said making data about all aspects of drug use available is one of the campaign's main targets.

However, he said “from the modest experience they have families are reticent in case of having addicted members in their midst due to the stigma of shame."

The symposium was held in collaboration with the Anti-Drug Department of Sharjah Police General Headquarters, Hemaya International Center of Dubai Police Department, and Irada Center for Treatment and Rehabilitation.

The symposium was attended by over 150 local scientists.

The scientists presented their research on drug addiction, prevention, and rehabilitation, relapse and recovery.