Cénacle de La Lumière Conference “Living Without Drugs is Not a Utopia”

July 19, 2012 - PRLog -- Under the patronage and participation of H.E. Mr. Wael Abou Faour, Minister of Social Affairs, and in the context of the World Drug Day, Cénacle de La Lumière (CDLL) held a conference in Crowne Plaza Hotel, Hamra, on 18 July 2012 “Living without drugs is not a utopia”. The conference aimed at relaying a message of hope that drug dependency can be overcome. General Adel Machmouchi, Head of Central Drugs Control office, representative of H.E. the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Head of drugs control office in South, representative of general director of General security, General Achraf Rifi,Comandant Henry Mansour, representative of general director of National security,Comandant Dr.Chawki Mitri, head of medical syndicat Dr. Charaf Abou Charaf, as well as former ministers Mona Ofeich and Selim Sayegh participated in the conference. It also gathered representatives of local and international governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as representatives of education sector, syndicates, municipalities, church, medical staff, drugs-specialists and public figures.

The meeting tackled important topics in the field of drug dependency and treatment through presentations of experts in the field and collaborators of CDLL. The conference also called upon the different components of the society, authorities and specialists in particular, to reflect on the importance of supporting drug addicts to overcome their dependency and make better life choices.

The Conference

After the national anthem, President of CDLL Mrs. Souraya Frem Baroud started the conference with a welcome speech followed by the Maronite Bishop of the Diocese of Jbeil Mgr. Michel Aoun, and the H.E. the Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Wael Abou Faour.  

During the first session, Mr. Georges Van Der Straten, (vice president of the Europeen Federation of Therapeutic Communities (2000-2011) with more than 35 years of experience as director of drug addiction rehabilitation program), presented the Therapeutic Communities (TC) as a school of life to overcome drug addiction. “Drug dependency is a disruption of the brain, behavioral and relational functions.   To have a life free from drugs, the drug dependant person should learn how to resolve stress related problems through relations and responsibilities. TC’s are schools of life where the person can develop his skills through mutual help and practical implementation of basic educational principles. TC efficiency has been measured and assessed, but they are one link in a chain of other types of interventions that should work together to support drug users, in order for each one of them to find the proper response to his needs and to grow individually”.  

The second session was presented by Dr. Sami Richa, head of the department of psychiatry at Hôtel-Dieu de France, who discussed the drug addiction problem in Lebanon and the promises of the therapeutic approach in psychiatry. “Getting out of an addiction to drugs supposes an appropriate social policy, a psycho-medical support and the consideration of the drug addict as a whole. Therefore, in addition to a detox program, a rehabilitation that guarantees the freedom of choice, commitment to certain values and changing of intrinsic concept for the drug addict resulting from his addiction, should be in place. Two questions are important to consider: are we naturally born to become addicts and what freedom do we have to get out of it?”

Finally, Mr. Raffi Kaypekian, operations manager of Cénacle de La Lumière (CDLL), concluded the conference by presenting the foundations of the spiritual dimension in the integral therapeutic approach of CDLL. “The spiritual work of CDLL is a main sector in an integral approach: biological, psychological, social, spiritual.  It plays a role in building a solid life and rests on several foundations: our faith in God’s efficient love in our lives, the joint correlation of spiritual action with other types of therapeutic interventions, the respect for the freedom and responsibility of the residents in rehab, the experience of the power of forgiveness in the healing process, the teaching of the bible, the practice of Sacraments and finally the communion and partnership with our beneficiary, his family and every person and parties with good will supporting drug addicts in our Lebanese society, Arab region and the world.”


About Cénacle de La Lumière

Cénacle de La Lumière (CDLL) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2007. Its mission is to serve individuals suffering from drug addiction problems, as well as their families. The NGO also strives to engage today's youth to lead a life based on strong values away from drugs.

For More Information

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