BY RAYNALD RIVERA The Permanent Committee for Drugs and Alcohol Affairs (PCDAA) organized the National Consultative Conference on National Strategy for Combating Drugs on Monday at Four Seasons Hotel under the patronage of H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of State for Internal Affairs. In his inaugural speech, Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, Director General of Public Security and Chairman of the PCDAA, stressed the importance of holding the meeting for experts to discuss the problems posed by alcohol and drugs. He also added that the problem of drugs is not new but the methods used for drug trafficking and trading are. Staff Major General Al Khulaifi said, "The committee has given high priority for preventing drug and alcohol abuse because it threatens the stability, safety, development and growth of a society." "The committee has drafted plans and strategies to deal with all kinds of drug problems through various programmes, preventive measures and training programmes to raise awareness among the people in addition to strengthening cooperation with regional and international organizations," he added. He said that in the framework of these fast changes and to unify the national efforts to fight against drug phenomenon, it was necessary to draft a national strategy that would define the basics of work needed at the national level and draw the general policy, plans and programmes to combat drugs and alcohol. Dr Abdullah Jumua Al Kubaisi, Chairman of the Strategy Making Committee, explained the methods they followed in preparing a national strategy for combating drugs and alcohol and its aims. Dr Al Kubaisi said the Strategy Making Committee completed its work and presented the national strategy for combating drugs and alcohol to the permanent committee for drugs and alcohol affairs in March and the project was forwarded to all bodies concerned in April. The suggestions and recommendations received from the concerned bodies will be discussed during the National Consultative Conference on National Strategy for Combating Drugs. The Strategy Making Committee formed the national strategy based on the permanent constitution of Qatar, laws that criminalize drug trafficking, duties of the Permanent Committee for Drugs And Alcohols Affairs and Arab, regional and international treaties. National plan to combat drugs being drawn up

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