Vice Rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), Professor Nino Okribelashvili and Deputy Director General of the TSU Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction, Guri Menabdishvili held an interactive meeting with students as part of an information campaign “Do Not Try,” marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The event was organized by the Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction and it was held at TSU on June 26.
Vice Rector Nino Okribelashvili noted that the campaign will not have one-time nature and that a series of events aimed at preventing drug abuse will be held in the future. “Student engagement in such events is very important, because the first contacts with drugs are just established at a younger age. We, the professional community of narcologists and psychiatrists, on the one hand, and the academic community, including professors, on the other, will be mobilized to say a new word about what particular problems drug use may cause,” Nino Okribelashvili said.
Deputy Director General of the TSU Center for Mental Health and Prevention of Addiction, Guri Menabdishvili answered the questions asked by students about drugs. He noted that an interactive nature of the meeting is important, because students have an opportunity to get information about drugs not only based on statistical data, but directly from a narcologist. He expressed hope that those people who had abused drugs for years would also join the events. “Professional opinion is very important. Just therefore, the engagement of those people, who work in this sphere and are aware about the harm drugs may cause, is extremely important. It will be good if former or current drug users are engaged, because they know better than others what harm drugs may cause,” Guri Menabdishvili said.
“We are at the age, when it is very important to understand what drug use may cause. I do not think that people should be jailed for drug use; however, it is very important for everyone to be aware about the threats caused by drug use. I am studying occupational therapy that is close to mental health sphere and I have frequently met with patients who are facing mental problems just because of drug use,” TSU student Natia Gabrava said.
The meeting was held in the format of a Q&A session. A film on drug addicts created as part of information campaign “Do Not Try” was also screened during the event.
