Under the patronage of Prof. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, the Equal Opportunities and Women’s Empowerment Unit organized an awareness seminar for university students as part of the “Together Against Violence Against Women” campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December. The campaign aims to address issues related to violence against women and provide mechanisms for protection against various forms of abuse. The event was held under the supervision of Prof. Nasser Abdel-Bary, Vice President for Education and Students’ Affairs, and Dr. Rania Azmy, Director of the Equal Opportunities and Women’s Empowerment Unit.
Today’s event included an awareness seminar titled “From Awareness to Safety: Protection from Addiction”.

Prof. El-Kased emphasized that the campaign seeks to combat all forms of violence against women and the underlying causes, foremost among them drug abuse and its physical and psychological consequences on users, as well as its inevitable negative impact on families—particularly women, who face heightened exposure to violence from addicted individuals. He highlighted the importance of curbing the spread of drugs in society, fostering health, social, and cultural awareness regarding their dangers, and encouraging affected individuals to seek help and treatment.

He further noted that Menoufia University, through the campaign’s activities—which include a series of seminars and awareness workshops—aims to enhance coordination and cooperation among governmental and civil entities concerned with combating narcotics, ensuring sustained joint efforts in this regard.

The campaign also focuses on reducing drug prevalence in society, raising awareness of the associated health, social, and cultural risks, and encouraging drug users to seek assistance. This comes particularly in light of the rise in drug users to 10% of the population, a rate double the global average, which directly contributes to the increase in violence against women.

Prof. El-Kased stressed the need to highlight addiction-related issues and their treatment as a core component of the campaign, while increasing awareness among students and families about the dangers of drug abuse and its negative impact on health, society, and the rising rates of all forms of violence and crime.

For his part, Prof. Nasser Abdel-Bary, Vice President for Education and Students’ Affairs, explained the grave risks facing university youth due to drug abuse, including its destructive impact on individual and community health, the increased prevalence of violence and criminal activity, and the decline in students’ academic performance.

He added that the university is preparing to launch extensive awareness campaigns for students on the dangers of drug abuse, conduct drug screening to help prevent addiction, raise awareness of associated risks, and develop treatment plans for affected students. This will include continuous screening to safeguard students’ physical, mental, and psychological health, uphold community values on campus, and reduce violence resulting from the spread of drugs in society.

During the seminar, Dr. Haidy Mostafa, Professor of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine, reviewed the risks associated with drug abuse, outlining the types of narcotics, their most dangerous forms, and their impact on public health and families. She emphasized that drug abuse is a major contributing factor to the spread of crime and violence in society. She cited recent local statistics indicating that more than 400 billion EGP were spent on combating drug-related crimes—equivalent to 51% of Egypt’s public budget during 2021 and 2022.

She also discussed the health symptoms associated with drug abuse, noting that exposure to large doses can lead to brain hemorrhage and death, in addition to impairing cognitive abilities and causing auditory and visual hallucinations, criminal behavior, and violence.

Dr. Haidy further explained various types of drugs and methods of use—such as injection, drinking, pills, and inhalation—highlighting the emergence of new forms known as “drug-laced adhesive tabs”, which can remain active for up to 48 hours. She also pointed to the spread of synthetic drugs, which mimic traditional narcotics but pose higher risks due to the presence of more destructive substances, contributing to increased crime and violence. Additionally, she warned about the rising use of digital drugs, which affect perception and awareness.

The seminar concluded by urging students to refrain from all forms of drug use, avoid negative peer influence, and abstain from consuming food or beverages from unknown or untrusted individuals, particularly in public spaces. Students were also encouraged to seek support immediately—should they or someone they know be exposed to drug use—by contacting the Drug Control Fund units across faculties or the drug prevention hotline 16023.