Aoun on Drug Abuse day: Whoever proves involved will be held accountable
28 حزيران 2018 16:52
In a speech during an awareness-raising event held on the occasion of the International Day to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, at the Presidential Palace, under the patronage of First Lady, Mrs. Nadia Aoun, President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, said that "the addict is not a criminal but rather a victim. He needs from his family and his surroundings all the support and help they can provide for him to win the battle."
"Abandoning an addict prompts surrender, and all the institutions gathered here today have as main objective providing that kind of support," the President said.
"What I care about is pre-emptive measures that protect our society and our children and prevent them from becoming potential victims," he added, stressing the need for awareness and urging serious and firm fight against drug-related crimes "which are the most of terrible crimes, because they destroy young people, thus destroying the future of the homeland and killing its dreams."
"The dealer and the smuggler are not the only criminals here. Also involved are the factory, the producer, the packager, the transporter, the accomplice and the protector... Those are all criminals to the same degree, and all of them must be brought in and held accountable. There will be no immunity to anyone. (...) Whoever proves involved in drugs will be held accountable," Aoun pledged.
"In Lebanon, we want the battle against drug abuse to be a comprehensive nationwide war in which every citizen can participate. Every individual in society is a potential victim, [either by turning into an addict or by shouldering with someone else the burden of addiction], so everyone shall confront from where he stands," he said.