Propaganda 'Friend' against drugs launched in Dubai

[Alfa]

'Friend' against drugs launched

By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter
Published: June 27, 2008, 00:07

Dubai: The experiences of reformed drug addicts form a major component of an electronic information programme named "Friend", which aims to spread awareness on the dangers of drug addiction.

Dubai Police have developed an electronic information kiosk, which contains medical and scientific information on the dangers of drug addiction.

Fifteen of these kiosks have been distributed to government and private schools, to spread awareness among school pupils and university and college students.

The "Friend" device contains video and audio messages and uses touch-screen technology.

Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police, said the police have submitted a request to the UAE's Ministry of Economy to register the patent and copyright of the device under the police's name. It is one of a kind and was 100 per cent locally developed.

He said the police have received an official letter from the United Nations office in Cairo, asking them to provide a copy of the device to the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna to display it in their main hall.

"The information kiosk answers the needs of this generation, who are fond of technology. The device displays information and video clips in Arabic and English," Maj Gen Al Mazeina said.

Bitter experience

The device also tells the real-life stories of two reformed drug addicts and their bitter experience as former addicts. One of them currently studies in Cairo while the other worked at the anti-narcotic department. The stories aim to help the youth steer clear of anything that could lead to drug addiction.

Maj Gen Al Mazeina said according to a field study to measure the benefit of the device on pupils in the past few months, the device helped increase knowledge on the dangers of drug addiction and prevention by 90 per cent.


Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Acting Chief of Dubai Police, launches the electronic device 'Friend' that will spread awareness on drugs.

[enquirewithin]

Do these devices tell you how a fraction of a gram of cannabis can harm anyone?

Maj Gen Al Mazeina said according to a field study to measure the benefit of the device on pupils in the past few months, the device helped increase knowledge on the dangers of drug addiction and prevention by 90 per cent.

Tall buildings, tall stories!

[Orchid_Suspiria]

I wish everyone would boycott Dubai.This is the one country more draconian than the United States in its approach to the war on drugs.

[Panthers007]

Michael Jackson moved there. Smoke a joint - get skinned. Rape a kid? Give you a pension?

Last one out of Dubai, please shut off the lights.

Where did they get the 90% figure from? Ask the kids if they saw the machine blocking the entry-way to the school?

[MrG]

Dubai fucking creeps me out. Nothing but a dustbowl in the desert that they are throwing, actually throwing money at in order to try and turn it into something else. I know they did it with Vegas but at least you can fucking party in Vegas.

What kind of moron would actually move to Dubai?

They have an immigrant workforce that would have shamed the egyptians, building hi-rise homes for who exactly?

The business world is being made a laughing stock. Sure you can wrangle some tax breaks here and there but to have to actually live in that place would freak me out.

They still work to the old arab way there too! A written contract ain't worth the paper its written on. If they turn on you, run and forget about anything you own.

True story: Someone I know had lived in Dubai for a few years and decided to move to another country. They arrange for all their stuff to be shipped by container, including their pricey, duty-free luxury vehicle. Paid the agent and flew off to their new life.

Three months later there is no sign of the container. Rings agent who, eventually, takes the call and simply tells them he is keeping their stuff and if they want it they can come and get it.

End of.