As part of its ongoing efforts to raise community awareness about addiction prevention, Emirates Health Services (EHS) participated in the 2025 Drug Prevention Forum. Organized by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the Anti-Narcotics Council and Abu Dhabi Police under the slogan “A Conscious Family… A Safe Society,” the event took place from June 19 to 29 at the Galleria Mall in Abu Dhabi.

EHS’s participation aimed to highlight its comprehensive efforts and vision to combat addiction through a series of interactive workshops and awareness sessions targeting diverse community groups, including youth, parents, mental health professionals, educators, healthcare workers, and influential community figures.

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Empowering Families.. Building Hope

Dr. Noor Almheiri, Director of Mental Health Department at EHS, emphasized that EHS’s involvement aligns with its mission to enhance community prevention strategies and advance mental health services in line with global best practices. She stressed the pivotal role of empowering families to support national drug control strategies and improve early detection and timely intervention.

Dr. Ammar Al Banna, Director of Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, highlighted the hospital’s commitment to addressing the social and psychological shifts affecting youth behavior. He noted the importance of developing science-based preventive models that start within the family and integrate with the roles of schools and communities.

EHS hosted workshops and discussion sessions on critical topics such as “Building a Cohesive Family,” “Mental Wellbeing,” “Positive Parenting,” “How to Achieve Mental Health?” and “Parenting in a Changing World.”

During the session “Empowering Families for a Safe Life,” organized with the Khalifa Empowerment Program – Aqdar, specialists from Al Amal Hospital discussed the family’s central role in addiction prevention. They underscored the need to instill hope as a psychological and social value to shield individuals from risky behaviors, while emphasizing personal responsibility and familial support in fostering awareness.

Al Amal Hospital also hosted a panel titled “Adolescents and Addiction: A Shared Community Responsibility,” where psychiatry and addiction treatment experts shared successful field experiences, reinforcing the importance of collaboration among families, schools, and communities in comprehensive drug prevention.

Tailored Prevention for People of Determination

In collaboration with the Emirates Autism Society and the Sakina platform, part of SEHA – Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, EHS organized a session titled “Preventing Addiction Among Youth of Determination: Challenges and Solutions.” Dr. Meshal Sultan, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, emphasized the need for preventive programs tailored to the behavioral and cognitive needs of People of Determination. He advocated for empowering families to recognize early warning signs and provide stable environments that enhance mental health.

Discussions addressed psychological and behavioral challenges faced by those with autism spectrum disorders, alongside risk factors such as co-occurring health conditions, social isolation, and insufficient family supervision.

An Integrated Vision to Protect Future Generations

The Drug Prevention Forum serves as a pioneering platform to equip families with knowledge and skills for early detection of risky behaviors. EHS’s participation reflects its commitment to building a healthy, safe society through preventive measures and awareness campaigns centered on human wellbeing. These efforts align with EHS’s broader goals to foster mental health support systems and create a drug-free community.