(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Raising awareness of the dangers of drug abuse is among the most important components of the work the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) does to combat drug use in Jordan, AND Director Col. Muhannad Attar said.
In a recent interview with The Jordan Times, Attar said the department had a broad mandate for dealing with drug problems and focused on prevention and deterrence rather than punishment.
"We work on several levels: preventing and combating drug trafficking and abuse, treatment, and awareness raising," Attar added. "In my opinion, we are very successful in the awareness strategy because we feel that the situation in Jordan is under control."
The AND's awareness programmes include lecturing at various institutes and correctional and rehabilitation centres, approaching mosque preachers, and most importantly "reaching out to students at universities and high schools".
He stressed that the number of drug addicts in Jordan is less than 1 per cent of the population, "much better than many countries in the world".
In its 2010 report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that worldwide, between 155 and 250 million people (3.5 to 5.7 per cent of the population aged 15-64) used illicit substances at least once in 2008.
Globally, cannabis users comprise the largest number of illicit drug users (129-190 million people), according to the same report.
The means by which drugs are smuggled into Jordan can vary, according to Attar.
"We have to deal with the weirdest methods and tricks people use to smuggle illegal narcotics, from people swallowing the drugs to hiding them in brooms, holy books, olive and cheese jars, animals, shoes and construction stones," he said.
The AND director added that the department "is working closely with relevant departments in neighbouring countries and countries as far away as the US and Canada to combat this dangerous phenomenon".
"This what we try to do in our department: protect Jordan and its citizens from the dangers of illegal narcotics," Attar said.
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