Amman, Jan. 28 (Petra) – Secretary-General of the National Council for Family Affairs Mohammad Miqdadi said the council, in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is conducting a specialized national study examining behavioral and social changes aimed at preventing the use of drugs, tobacco, and pharmaceutical substances among children and youth.
Miqdadi said the study seeks to identify the psychological, social, and environmental drivers of substance use, and to generate evidence-based data to inform the design of targeted interventions and more effective, sustainable prevention programs. He said these efforts contribute to safeguarding individual health, family stability, and community security.
He explained that the study is being implemented using a comprehensive scientific methodology combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. It is structured around two main axes. The first focuses on analyzing the motivations behind substance use by identifying key psychological, social, and environmental determinants, including low self-esteem, curiosity and experimentation, weak self-efficacy, peer pressure, family role modeling, and the influence of information circulating on social media. This analysis, he said, will support the development of more precise and impactful preventive interventions.
The second axis centers on integrating social and behavioral change approaches into the policies, programs, and action plans of relevant institutions, to strengthen a comprehensive prevention framework and activate the role of national institutions in curbing the spread of substance abuse.
Miqdadi said this approach represents a modern and effective model, as it provides deeper insight into how individuals make decisions and interact with their social environment, relying on social and behavioral evidence to enhance the effectiveness of awareness and prevention programs.
He noted that the study places particular emphasis on the role of the family environment in prevention, highlighting the importance of sustained and effective communication between parents and children as a key factor in building trust and reinforcing the psychological and social resilience of children and youth.
He added that the study also incorporates an institutional dimension by focusing on the school environment, promoting preventive programs based on life and social skills development, and strengthening communication channels among teachers, service providers, and students.
Within the legislative context, Miqdadi pointed to the Child Rights Law No. 17 of 2022, particularly Article 11, which mandates the Ministry of Health, in coordination with relevant authorities, to take all necessary measures to ensure children enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. He highlighted Paragraph (h), which calls for the establishment of specialized centers for the treatment and rehabilitation of children affected by addiction to drugs, psychotropic, or volatile substances, in line with available resources.
To support the preparation of the study, Miqdadi said the council formed a specialized technical committee as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and partnership between national institutions and international organizations, and to unify responses to the growing challenges posed by drug abuse, which threatens family stability and social cohesion. He stressed the need to sustain coordination to ensure service quality and the effectiveness of national programs.
He added that, within its efforts to institutionalize family counseling, the National Council for Family Affairs has developed a family counseling guide that addresses, among other topics, counseling for families of individuals with addiction. The guide underscores the importance of prevention in enabling families to protect their children, while outlining family coping stages and mechanisms to shield children from substance abuse.
//Petra// AJ
