Damascus, July 16 (SANA) Syrian government officials met at the Presidency on Thursday to coordinate a nationwide strategy against drug trafficking and addiction, as authorities move to expand the “Syria Without Drugs” campaign into a long-term national program.
The meeting, chaired by Presidential Secretary-General Abdul Rahman al-Ama, brought together the ministers of interior, health, religious endowments (Awqaf) and culture, along with representatives from other ministries and government agencies.
According to the Presidency’s General Secretariat, participants reviewed progress made under the campaign, assessed ongoing challenges and discussed measures to strengthen coordination among state institutions.
Officials agreed on the need for a unified national framework combining prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The proposals include incorporating drug prevention into school curricula, expanding public awareness campaigns through religious, media, cultural and sports institutions, and unifying government messaging on the issue.
Participants also discussed final amendments to Syria’s anti-drug law, plans to establish additional treatment centers in the provinces and prisons, and programs to help recovering addicts reintegrate into society and the labor market.
The meeting reviewed a draft national anti-drug strategy and approved the formation of a permanent interministerial working group, chaired by the Presidency’s General Secretariat, to coordinate implementation and issue monthly reports evaluating the effectiveness of anti-drug initiatives.
The “Syria Without Drugs” campaign was launched on June 26 by the Ministries of Interior and Health in the presence of President Ahmad al-Sharaa as part of a broader government effort to combat drug trafficking and addiction.
R A H / ABD
