National Rehabilitation Center launches awareness campaign on World No Tobacco Day

(MENAFN- Viola Communications) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 02 June 2026: The National Rehabilitation Center (NRC) announced the launch of an awareness campaign marking World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31. The campaign aims to promote accurate knowledge about the real harms of tobacco use in all its forms, expose misleading marketing messages promoting certain new tobacco products, and provide psychological support and practical guidance to encourage smokers to make the decision to quit and begin their recovery journey toward a healthier life.
The Center is organizing a range of initiatives and activities designed to enhance community awareness, particularly among youth and adolescents, about the risks associated with alternative tobacco products and e-cigarettes. The campaign also addresses negative behaviors linked to addiction and cybercrimes.
NRC has been collaborating with Emirates National Schools to develop and coordinate a joint awareness project aimed at raising students’ awareness of addiction as a disease and its harms, while also engaging teachers and parents in prevention and awareness efforts. The project’s phases have been implemented and developed throughout the current year, with results expected to be announced in the coming months.
Several key initiatives were developed, including the “Positive Awareness Ambassadors” initiative, which targets students in grades 9 through 12. It aims to raise awareness about the harms of tobacco products among students and the wider school community, under the supervision of specialized mentors. All Emirates National Schools campuses are participating in the initiative, with teams of male and female students formed to implement awareness plans that emphasize creativity, innovation, and the use of modern digital tools to effectively deliver awareness messages.
As part of its capacity-building efforts, the Center is also delivering training programs for educational staff at Emirates National Schools, aimed at enhancing the readiness of educational personnel to address issues related to addiction and negative behaviors among students.

Commenting on the initiative, Yousef Altheeb Alketbi, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rehabilitation Center, said: “The world is witnessing rapid changes in patterns of tobacco product consumption, driven by the emergence of new products and digital marketing methods that increasingly target younger age groups. This underscores the need to adopt a proactive national approach based on early prevention, awareness grounded in scientific evidence, and strengthened institutional and community partnerships. In this context, the National Rehabilitation Center continues to develop integrated awareness and treatment programs that contribute to protecting society, enhancing quality of life, and building more aware and healthier generations.”
“At NRC, we believe that prevention is the cornerstone of reducing the burden of addiction. Therefore, we continue to invest in community education and awareness across various platforms, while also developing initiatives that directly target youth and students in partnership with educational institutions, contributing to fostering a culture of awareness and prevention among future generations,” he added.
The National Rehabilitation Center continues its efforts to strengthen its leading role in prevention and treatment, support research efforts, develop national capabilities, and expand institutional partnerships, contributing to building a more aware, healthier, and sustainable society for future generations.

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