'Say No to Drugs' programme integrates awareness drive into sports

Observer

16-07-2025

Ahmed al Kaabi
Muscat, July 16
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth organised an awareness initiative under the slogan 'Say No to Drugs', targeting students participating in the summer sports programmes in Muscat Governorate. The initiative aimed to raise awareness among teenagers about the dangers of drug use and its negative impact on mental, physical and social health.
As part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to promote community awareness, the initiative focused on educating youth, their families and educational institutions about the factors that lead some teenagers to experiment with drugs such as peer pressure, curiosity and a lack of familial or religious guidance. The event also emphasised the importance of family communication and parental monitoring, particularly during adolescence, a critical stage marked by rapid intellectual and behavioural changes.
The initiative included a specialised awareness lecture delivered by Yahya al Riyami, a mental health specialist from the Executive Office of the National Committee for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. He stated that the main objective of the lecture was to equip youth and school students with preventive skills to help them avoid falling into addiction.
Al Riyami explained that the lecture covered several key topics, starting with an introduction to the role of the National Committee. He emphasised that the Sultanate of Oman places top priority on this issue, having established specialised committees to address prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The lecture also provided a detailed explanation of the different types of drugs and their devastating effects on the nervous system, as well as discussing the main causes of drug use.
He stressed that the inevitable outcomes of drug use without treatment or rehabilitation are either imprisonment or death and emphasised that early prevention and community awareness are the most effective ways to combat this scourge.
The lecture also addressed essential life skills students need to protect themselves from drugs, such as planning, time management, effective communication, emotional expression, problem-solving, assertive refusal and self-confidence building.
Speaking about the importance of raising awareness during adolescence, Al Riyami said, at this age, students undergo intellectual and behavioural changes and are sometimes driven by a desire to experiment, which may lead to poor decisions. Therefore, it is essential they possess enough awareness to understand the potential consequences of any negative experience, especially drug use.
Regarding the committee's plans, Al Riyami revealed ongoing educational programmes in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, implemented in Cycle 2 schools to promote behavioural skills. He also mentioned a nationwide community competition, now in its fourth edition with the participation of 28 wilayats, compared to just 10 in the first edition.
He added that the committee also targets parents through specialised awareness plans, which include the production of video clips and short films, as well as organising awareness exhibitions in shopping malls, with the goal of delivering preventive messages in an engaging and direct way to all segments of society.
Hussam al Rashdi, a student, noted that the lecture addressed several important aspects, particularly the emphasis on not remaining silent in case of suspected drug dealers inside the school. He stressed the need for immediate reporting to the school administration to ensure proper handling of such situations and prevent the spread of drugs among students.
Ahlam al Khamisi, Sports Activity Specialist for the 2025 Summer Sports Programme in Muscat Governorate, affirmed that the programme is rich with diverse activities that go beyond training, focusing also on instilling community values and raising awareness, in line with Oman Vision 2040. She noted that dedicated anti-drug awareness campaigns were carefully tailored to suit different age groups, starting from ages 7 to 11, based on their level of understanding, an approach that led to strong engagement from children, who asked thoughtful questions that reflected growing awareness.
She added that today's event featured an intensive discussion session for the 12 to 16 age group. This session concluded a series of shorter workshops conducted earlier. Al Khamisi also emphasised the important role of parents in following up with their children after such awareness sessions and encouraging open dialogue about the dangers of drug use.