Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the Continuing Education Unit, in cooperation with the University Psychological Counseling Unit, at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy held an in-person workshop entitled “Silent Drug Addiction: When Medicine Becomes a Hidden Danger”, delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Ali Faris Hassan, a faculty member at the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department.
The workshop aimed to highlight the concept of silent drug addiction, its mechanisms, causes, associated health and psychological risks, and methods of prevention. The workshop included several topics, including defining silent drug addiction as one of the most dangerous types of addiction as it targets diverse segments of society and develops gradually without the patient or those around them noticing. Also, the role of neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, in the development of drug dependence was explained. Furthermore, the most prominent medications associated with this phenomenon were addressed, including opioid analgesics, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and decongestant nasal sprays, while reviewing long-term health and psychological complications resulting from misuse, such as memory and concentration disorders, mood swings, and impaired organ function. Finally, the workshop discussed methods of prevention and treatment through adherence to medical guidelines and ongoing health education.
The workshop concluded by emphasizing the importance of promoting health awareness among patients and the necessity of adhering to prescribed dosages and continuous medical follow-up to mitigate this phenomenon and its health and psychological consequences.
