The Department of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Engineering at the College of Engineering organized an awareness workshop on Thursday, March 12, 2026, entitled “Drugs as a Contemporary Crisis: Between the University Reality and Societal Challenges.” The workshop was held via the Google Meet platform with the participation of a number of faculty members and students.

The workshop was presented by Assistant Lecturer Shaimaa Mudhafar Hashim and Assistant Lecturer Noor Maher Moataz. It addressed the issue of drug abuse as one of the most prominent problems facing contemporary societies due to its negative impacts on health, social, and security aspects, particularly among youth and university students.

The workshop highlighted the major societal challenges associated with drug abuse, including increased crime rates, the breakdown of family ties, and reduced societal productivity, in addition to its direct impact on university students through declining academic performance and behavioral deviations. It also shed light on the medical and health consequences of addiction and the serious physical and psychological harm it may cause, which can lead to severe diseases and damage to the nervous system.

Furthermore, the workshop discussed the university environment and methods of prevention, emphasizing the importance of spreading awareness within educational institutions, organizing educational workshops and programs, encouraging students to engage in positive activities, and highlighting the crucial role of families and society in limiting this phenomenon.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants emphasized that combating drug abuse is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation between educational institutions and the wider community, along with strengthening awareness and positive values among youth in order to protect society and enhance the university environment.