February 12, 2019 – Notre Dame University-Louaize North Lebanon Campus (NDU-NLC) organized a seminar to raise awareness on the potential risks and dangers associated with drug abuse. Prominent attendees included the NDU Alumni Affairs at NLC, press, faculty, staff, and students.
NLC director Fr. Francois Akl welcomed the attendees and thanked Father Majdi Al Alawi for accepting his invitation. "It is not true that addiction is only linked to drugs, alcohol or the Internet; the most dangerous is addiction to corruption, selfishness, pride, hatred and theft, but our University is addicted on education and values,” said Fr. Akl.
Fr. Al-Alawi discussed the major causes related to today’s drug abuse epidemic, which usually start at a relatively young age. He stated that the degree of parental care plays a crucial role in determining whether the children would resort to such deadly means to escape reality. Fr. Al-Alawi pointed that the problem of drug abuse and addiction is more dangerous than cancer, the latter may kill, but drug addiction can cause people to end up killing themselves. Therefore, addicted individuals need love, care and continuous follow-ups. Depending on their economic situation, they may also need help with full treatment: this is what his association Heaven’s Joy (Bonheur du Ciel) is doing.
Fr. Al-Alawi called a man to come forward and testify around his 18-year drug addiction and how it devastated his life. He echoed Fr. Al-Alawi’s viewpoints and added his personal experience that parental neglect is detrimental to the long-term health of a child.