College of Arts Launches Field Campaigns and Educational Seminars on the Occasion of the International Week Against Drug Abuse

The College of Arts Samarra University has initiated several campaigns on the occasion of the International Week Against Drug Abuse. These included field visits to secondary schools and educational seminars organized by the college’s departments throughout the week from November (16-19)- 2026, in cooperation with the Psychological Guidance Unit at the same college.
The college began its activities by presenting an educational seminar at Qatar Al-Nada Secondary School for Girls, titled “The Danger of Drug Abuse and its Negative Impact on the Individual and Society.” The seminar aimed to raise awareness among the students and explain the serious danger and grave mistake resulting from descending into any type of drug abuse. The Salah Addin Education Directorate participated in the success of this awareness activity.
The college resumed its campaigns with a field activity organized by the Department of History, distributing leaflets illustrating the various harms caused by drugs, including health, legal, and social consequences. The campaign targeted college students and staff, advising them to contact the competent authorities via the number (911) if they detect any suspicious activity related to drugs.
From the scientific perspective, the college held a seminar titled, “Drugs: Risks, Prevention, and the Role of Educational Institutions in Limiting their Spread.” It aimed to introduce the types of drugs and their direct impact on the individual, family, and society. The seminar recommended the importance of instilling a culture of societal rejection of abusers and dealers and enhancing the role of educational institutions in raising awareness among their audience.
From a similar angle, the College of Arts organized an educational seminar dedicated to students, titled “Awareness of the Dangers of Drugs Among University Students.” The organizers sought to highlight the health and psychological risks that affect students if they try drugs, in addition to the deterioration of their academic performance after abuse. They provided important recommendations, including staying away from unknown drugs or those with an unverified source or name, and heading to health centers and pharmacies if they require treatment.
Regarding the institutional role, the college enlightened its staff through a dialogue session that discussed several key points, including “The Role of Educational Institutions in Limiting the Spread of Drugs.” It warned that staff members will be subject to national drug testing, and anyone proven to be an abuser will be dismissed from their job and face legal accountability that could lead them behind bars. This reflects the state institutions’ commitment to maintaining clean educational institutions. The session also stressed the necessity of educating and warning students, and guiding them to the correct paths to ensure they do not become involved or entrapped in the life-destroying course of addiction.
The College of Arts also concluded its activities by promoting the role of the University of Samarra in limiting the spread of drugs with an educational seminar that sought to highlight the university’s indicators, which recorded (zero) cases of drug abuse or trafficking. This was achieved through its continuous guidance campaigns, constant monitoring, and the placement of ‘sensors’ (informants) among the students.
It is worth noting that these campaigns were aligned with the directives of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on the occasion of the International Week Against Drug Abuse, and that the University of Samarra and its colleges are committed to implementing them to ensure an Iraq free of drugs in the medium and long term.