Sunday 05 / October / 2025
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman is making intensive efforts to control the use of drug and psychotropic substance through a series of integrated programmes that combine treatment, rehabilitation, and awareness.
These programmes are implemented by various government and civil society entities in a framework of coordination and community partnership.
These pioneering national programmes include "Takayyuf" (Adaptation), dedicated to following up on the care and social and familial integration of recovered addicts, and the preventive programme "Fawasil" (Intervals), aimed at schoolchildren to enhance their life skills and raise their awareness of drug dangers.
These programmes integrate with the therapeutic, preventive, and community aspects to foster the stability of recovered individuals and establish a supportive environment to curb the spread of drug use.
Dr. Amira Abdulmohsen Al Ruwaidani, Supervisor of the Awareness and Training Section at the Executive Office of the Committee for the Prevention of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances at the Ministry of Health, confirmed to the Oman News Agency that there is tangible cooperation between the Ministry of Health and related government bodies through the national program "Takayyuf," which provides follow-up and aftercare.
She added that the Prevention Committee, affiliated with the National Anti-Drug Committee, implemented this national program in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development to cover all governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
She explained that the programme aims for the social rehabilitation of recovered drug addicts and their reconnection with their families by providing various counseling programmes delivered by a social worker.
These programmes help them adapt to their social and familial environment, achieving psychological stability and integration into society.
She mentioned that the national educational and preventive programme "Fawasil" was implemented by the Prevention Committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, targeting schoolchildren aged 12 to 14 years.
She noted that the programme is built on a cognitive and social influence model by employing healthy preventive skills and methods in students' daily practices.
She indicated that a national team consisting of social and psychological specialists from the educational governorates (Ministry of Education), the Prevention Committee, the Royal Oman Police, and the Ministry of Health was trained to equip them with new strategies and methods for awareness.
This is intended to increase the awareness of both students and parents about the dangers of drugs by blending information with personal and social skills, developing life skills, and creating a cognitive impact through appropriate opportunities for student interaction and positive involvement in the program's activities, which is considered one of the creative and updated programmes in this field.
Dr. Amira bint Abdulmohsen Al Ruwaidani also stated that the Prevention Committee annually supervises the "Community Competition" in cooperation with the Community Initiatives Department at the Ministry of Health.
This competition aims to encourage community members in general, and youth in particular, to adopt community projects that collectively contribute to reducing the phenomenon across all wilayats of the Sultanate of Oman, in collaboration with the local health committees.
She added that the competition includes a set of community interventions based on implementing cultural, sports, and recreational activities to invest the energies of youth and employ them positively, thereby reinforcing their healthy behaviors and limiting negative risks to their lives.
It is worth mentioning that the Prevention Committee, in collaboration with the Directorate General for Anti-Narcotics, periodically organises community awareness campaigns through holding seminars, awareness exhibitions, and operating an awareness convoy that tours various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman to raise the level of community awareness regarding the drug problem.
Regarding the provision of psychological and social support for recovered addicts, the Supervisor of the Awareness and Training Section at the Executive Office explained that the support is demonstrated by encouraging the patient to attend periodic follow-up appointments at the addiction clinic at Al Masarra Hospital to meet with a doctor for psychological and health assessment and to address the social and familial circumstances the patient faces.
She pointed out that based on this, the doctor refers the case to a psychologist for individual or group psychological sessions. Care is also taken to refer the patient to a social worker to help overcome familial, occupational, and social problems they may experience.
She added that the national program "Takayyuf" for recovered individuals seeks to integrate the beneficiary into society, rebuild communication relationships with family and friends, and develop the ability to adapt and cope with life pressures.
This is achieved through various guidance and behavioral programmes provided to help and support their adaptation in their social and familial environment, securing their psychological and social stability, reinforcing their recovery, and strengthening their psychological resilience in dealing with challenges.
Finally, the National Platform for Awareness of Addiction Risks and Psychotropic Substances, "Hayat" (Life), was launched as the first digital platform in the Sultanate of Oman dedicated to providing integrated awareness and consultation services in the field of drug and psychotropic substance prevention and treatment. It also offers direct support channels for individuals, their families, and various community segments.
The platform is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Information, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
The announcement of this platform came in response to social challenges related to the spread of drugs, the increasing number of addicts, and the need to have reliable guidance and awareness information available in one place. It provides a secure, effective, and easily accessible electronic environment for prevention, support, awareness, guidance, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The "Hayat" platform is one of the national initiatives that aligns with the priorities of Oman Vision 2040, particularly in the axis related to building a safe, healthy, and cohesive society.
