Mr. Bilal Al-Nasser, the General Coordinator of the Syrian Center for Drugs Control Foundation, participated, along with a delegation from the foundation, in the “Pharmakon State” event held in the Syrian capital, Damascus, during a panel discussion titled: “The Reality of Drugs and Addiction in a Troubled Society: Between Use and Recovery,” organized by the “Tarakom” team within the framework of the “Pharmakon State” project.

During the session, Mr. Al-Nasser presented an intervention in which he addressed the reality of the spread of drugs in Syria, pointing to the significant increase in rates of use before and after 2011, highlighting the role played by the defunct regime in the proliferation of this phenomenon, both through policies and systematic practices. He also reviewed the most prominent types of drugs widespread among various segments of Syrian society, touching on the efforts made by the Syrian Center for Drugs Control Foundation through its programs and projects aimed at prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

On the sidelines of the event, the foundation’s delegation visited the awareness art exhibition held at the Anti-Drug Center in the city of Jaramana, under the title “Pharmakon”—a Greek word meaning “medicine and poison.” It is an awareness art project launched by artist Khaled Barakeh, with the participation of a group of male and female artists, aiming to shed light on issues of addiction using visual arts as an effective tool for community awareness and fostering positive change.

The Syrian Center for Drugs Control Foundation reaffirms its ongoing commitment to participating in and supporting initiatives and events aimed at raising societal awareness about the dangers of addiction, and promoting a culture of prevention, recovery, and psychosocial support, contributing to the building of a healthier, safer, and more stable society.