ESC To Conduct National Survey On Drugs And Psychoactive Substances

Amman, Sept. 6 (Petra) -- The Economic and Social Council (ESC), in partnership with the Strategic Studies Center at the University of Jordan, plans to conduct a national field survey examining the situation of drugs and psychoactive substances in Jordan, involving a sample of 12,000 individuals.

The survey aims to provide a comprehensive scientific database that will contribute to developing the national strategy to combat drugs and improve understanding of the social, economic, psychological, and cultural factors associated with the phenomenon.

ESC President Mousa Shteiwi said in a statement Sunday that the study was an essential requirement for developing the national drug control strategy.

He said the council had been tasked with conducting the study following discussions with the head of the National Committee for Combating Drugs, Brigadier General and military judge Ahmad Shhaltough, in cooperation with the Strategic Studies Center at the University of Jordan.

Shteiwi said the importance of the study stemmed from the need to move beyond assessing the drug phenomenon through available indicators toward building more comprehensive national knowledge based on field data.

Such an approach would help provide a better understanding of the characteristics of the phenomenon and the factors influencing it, while enabling the development of more accurate and effective policies and responses, he said.

During preparatory meetings for the study, Shteiwi and Shhaltough stressed the importance of establishing a national database to help relevant authorities assess the situation regarding drugs and psychoactive substances in Jordan more comprehensively and identify strengths and weaknesses in prevention, awareness, treatment, and drug-control systems.

A meeting of the study's Higher Steering Committee at the Economic and Social Council on Sunday reviewed the stages of preparing the study and the work completed ahead of the launch of the field survey.

The survey aims to build a more accurate picture of the characteristics of drug users, patterns of use, motives for drug use, methods of obtaining drugs and psychoactive substances, and their consequences.

The study also seeks to identify the demographic, social, economic, cultural, and psychological characteristics of people using drugs and psychoactive substances in Jordan and analyze the factors and motivations contributing to the spread of drug use.

It will identify the most prevalent types of drugs and psychoactive substances and explore the routes and methods through which they are obtained.

The study will also examine the social, economic, health, and psychological consequences of drug use, with the aim of producing scientific recommendations that could help inform the national drug control strategy.

According to information presented during the meeting, the Technical Committee has approved the final sample design, while the final version of the questionnaire has been prepared.

The questionnaire comprises seven sections covering the various dimensions of the phenomenon. A team of field researchers has also been formed, and the necessary security approvals have been obtained to begin the survey.

A pilot test of the study tool was conducted on Sept. 2 using a sample of 52 people before the start of the expanded fieldwork phase.

The questionnaire covers respondents' social and economic backgrounds, their level of awareness, attitudes, and perceptions regarding drugs and their prevalence, as well as the locations, methods, and reasons associated with drug promotion and trafficking.

It also examines the role of families in awareness-raising, prevention, and dealing with drug use, as well as the role of social media in the phenomenon and exposure to related content.

Other areas include personal experiences, patterns and sources of drug use, seeking treatment and assistance, and barriers and problems associated with drug use and available services.

The Higher Steering Committee was formed to oversee the study under a letter issued by the prime minister, while a Technical Committee was established to supervise its implementation at all stages.

Several relevant institutions are represented on the committee, including the State Security Court, the Anti-Narcotics Department, the Economic and Social Council, and the ministries of Justice, Health, Education, and Human Resources Development, as well as the Department of Statistics and the University of Jordan.

The next step will be to train the research team and begin fieldwork. The survey results are expected to provide a basis for analyzing the dimensions of the phenomenon and the factors influencing it and for developing scientific recommendations to support the national strategy to combat drugs.

//Petra// AF

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