Prof. Loai Saad El-Deen Nasrat, Acting President of Aswan University, launched the “Stop” initiative to combat drugs, which kicked off today under the slogan “You Are Stronger Than Drugs.” The event was attended by Prof. Mohamed Abdelaziz Mehallal, Vice President of the University for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Prof. Ashraf Imam, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environment Development, Prof. Mohamed Dandarawy, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Work, Dr. Tohami Sowailam, Coordinator of the Initiative, and Dr. Walaa Saad Arafa, Coordinator of Preventive Programs at the Addiction Treatment & Abuse Fund, in addition to a group of university students and members of the “For Egypt” student Group.
Prof. Loai Saad Al-Deen Nasrat, President of Aswan University, emphasized in his speech that the initiative is launched from Aswan University students, who represent the hope of the future and tomorrow’s leaders in the context of building the new republic. He noted that youth are the driving force for progress, work, and production to achieve sustainable development goals.
Prof. Nasrat added that the university’s student activities plan aims to hone students’ skills and talents and invest their energy in activities that benefit the individual, community, and institutions, highlighting the importance of raising awareness among youth about the dangers of drugs.
Prof. Mohamed Abdelaziz Mehallal, Vice President of the University for Postgraduate Studies and Research, pointed out the importance of supporting youth in various fields, particularly in student activities, which help to releasing students’ energy into positive and effective directions.
Prof. Ashraf Imam, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environment Development, explained that the “Stop” initiative is part of the university’s plan to combat drugs in collaboration with the Addiction Combat and Treatment Fund of Ministry of Social Solidarity. The Community Service and Environment Development sector has prepared an executive plan for 2025, including the establishment of a volunteer house and training student volunteers to raise awareness about addiction risks and work to reduce this phenomenon.
Dr. Walaa Saad, Coordinator of Preventive Programs at the Addiction Treatment and Abuse Fund, stated that the fund has launched several initiatives in collaboration with Aswan University to detect cases of substance abuse among employees and students and to educate students about the dangers of drugs and their impact on individual and societal life. The camp also included the distribution of awareness materials highlighting the risks of addiction and preventive measures.
The camp featured several educational and training activities aimed at raising societal awareness among students about the psychological and physical harms of drugs, encouraging them to adopt healthy and balanced lifestyles.
This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts by Aswan University and the Addiction Combat and Treatment Fund to promote a culture of awareness and prevention among students and the university community as a whole, supporting national efforts to combat addiction and drug abuse challenges.
Additionally, the initiative includes a competition for students during Ramadan to implement electronic or field initiatives to raise awareness about the harms of drugs, either individually or collectively. Workshops will also be held to guide students on how to create initiatives, with evaluation, announcement, and honoring of the winning initiatives.
