Amman, July 2 (Petra) -- The Be Real Foundation (BRC), Jordan's World Affairs Council, and the Arab Society for Public Awareness from Dangerous Drugs and Narcotics on Thursday organized an international conference in Amman titled "The Isolation of Stigmatized Selves and the Stigma of Drug Crimes in Arab Consciousness: Toward a Scientific and Humanitarian Approach to Combating the Drug Scourge." The conference was held under the patronage of former Prime Minister and President of the World Affairs Council Adnan Badran and brought together representatives of a wide range of Jordanian and Arab civil society organizations, as well as the Anti-Narcotics Department.

In his opening remarks, Badran said combating the threat posed by drugs is not solely the responsibility of security agencies but also requires the active participation of civil society institutions and individuals, including non-governmental organizations, schools, universities, places of worship and media organizations.

He said these institutions are essential partners in raising awareness of the dangers of drug abuse, promoting positive values among young people, and fostering a social culture that rejects drug use to curb its spread.

Badran added that investment in education is one of the most important strategic investments for building societal resilience against drugs, as it helps raise students' awareness of the health, psychological, social and economic risks associated with drug abuse while strengthening character, responsibility, discipline and self-confidence.

Abdullah Oweidat, president of the Arab Society for Public Awareness from Dangerous Drugs and Narcotics and a former minister of social development, said there is a close link between drug abuse and a range of social issues.

He said the spread of drugs contributes to the breakdown of family ties, rising domestic violence, divorce, school dropout rates, unemployment and poverty. Drug abuse also negatively affects individuals' social relationships and weakens their ability to assume responsibility and integrate into society, thereby increasing social problems and undermining social cohesion.

Oweidat said social factors such as poverty, unemployment, weak parental supervision and negative peer influence increase the likelihood of drug abuse, making the relationship between drugs and social issues both reciprocal and deeply interconnected.

He said addressing the problem requires tackling its underlying social causes alongside enforcing the law through strengthening families and expanding access to education and employment opportunities.

Mithaq Bayat Al-Daifi, president of BRC and chairman of the conference, said that while legal punishment ends when a prison sentence is completed, social challenges often persist long afterward.

He said many former offenders and recovering drug users continue to face social stigma, making it difficult to secure employment, rebuild family relationships and reintegrate into society.

Al-Daifi stressed the importance of raising public awareness about giving individuals a genuine opportunity for a fresh start, saying such efforts would help reduce recidivism, strengthen community security and preserve human dignity.

He said the conference serves as a scientific platform for dialogue, the exchange of expertise, and the formulation of practical recommendations to help develop evidence-based policies and programs that foster a more supportive social environment capable of accommodating recovering individuals and reintegrating them as productive members of society.

Acting Secretary-General of the Arab Thought Forum Amani Jarrar said drugs are no longer merely a security or public health issue but have become a civilizational challenge that threatens systems of values, undermines human capital and weakens prospects for development and stability.

She said drug abuse threatens not only the body but also a person's consciousness and relationship with themselves and society by eroding the ability to distinguish between freedom and submission, dismantling the system of values that gives life meaning and ultimately isolating individuals from their families, communities and sense of purpose.

Jarrar said the conference highlights an issue that extends beyond the criminal dimension: the "isolation of the stigmatized self." She said social stigma becomes an additional burden that deepens human suffering and limits opportunities for recovery and reintegration. A civilizational approach to addressing drug abuse, she added, should balance justice with compassion and enforcement with rehabilitation, based on the belief that rebuilding individuals requires restoring their self-confidence, opening pathways for dignified reintegration into society and fostering a culture that offers hope while confronting wrongdoing.

Iman Al-Hussein Al-Awamleh, chairwoman of the board of the Jordanian Women’s Solidarity Institute, said the conference focuses on the human dimension of drug addiction by addressing the stigma associated with addiction, whose effects extend beyond individuals to families and society and often become an obstacle to recovery and social reintegration.

She stressed the need to develop a public discourse based on knowledge and respect for human dignity.

Al-Awamleh said the Women's Solidarity Institute believes that empowering families, strengthening the role of women, protecting young people and promoting awareness are fundamental pillars of community prevention, adding that investing in people remains the most sustainable way to build safe and resilient societies.

Speaking via video link, Asif Melhem, director of the GSM Research and Studies Center in Moscow, presented findings from studies on drugs, addiction and substance abuse.

He said research points to high drug-related mortality rates in Russia and elevated numbers of hospital admissions linked to illnesses associated with drug abuse, warning that the findings underscore the serious threat posed by the spread of narcotics to countries worldwide.

The conference also discussed a series of research papers presented by experts and specialists from Jordan and other Arab countries, covering topics including recovery, addiction and stigma in Arab thought; dismantling mechanisms of social exclusion and family vulnerability; an integrated methodology for women and drug programs; protecting children from drugs through preventive approaches; and the role of the Anti-Narcotics Department in safeguarding society from the drug threat.

//Petra// AF