Athena Limited, a mental health wellbeing centre, recently hosted a scientific seminar titled "Advancing Strategies for Harm Reduction in Addiction: A Focus on Preventative Interventions and Safer Alternatives" at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Dhaka.
The seminar addressed the pressing issue of various addictions, which have become an alarming public health crisis in Bangladesh, given the country's high smoking rate.
The event emphasized integrating tobacco control strategies alongside adopting safer alternatives to curb smoking-related diseases and fatalities, marking significant progress in public health.
Distinguished medical professionals from various fields engaged in insightful discussions on this crucial topic.
Brigadier General (Retd) Prof Dr Md Azizul Islam, a renowned psychiatrist and principal of US-Bangla Medical College, presided over the event.
In his address, he underscored the importance of adopting both physiological and psychological approaches to tobacco risk mitigation, emphasizing that such methods would benefit smokers and society as a whole.
Psychiatrist Prof Dr Md Golam Rabbani, former Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the Protection of Neuro-Developmental Disabilities, attended as the guest of honour.
He highlighted the strong correlation between smoking and mental health issues, saying: “40% to 50% of smokers suffer from some form of mental disturbance; either they begin smoking because of it or smoking leads to it. This is not only a challenge for doctors but also for society and the entire nation to develop a pragmatic strategy to address this issue.”
Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, professor at the National Institute of Mental Health, delivered the keynote presentation, emphasizing the importance of both demand and supply reduction in tobacco addiction treatment while exploring innovative strategies to reduce tobacco harm.
Psychiatrist Dr Chiranjeeb Biswas followed with a compelling presentation on practical and effective interventions to treat various addictions and dependence, especially tobacco dependence.
One of the central themes of the seminar was to highlight safer alternatives to traditional smoking. Experts discussed comprehensive risk mitigation strategies and preventative interventions that can significantly lower the health risks associated with tobacco use.
They stressed that these methods offer a practical pathway for tobacco users and hold promise for improving public health on a broader scale.
The experts urged that policies should align with tobacco control strategies, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, integrated approaches.
They highlighted that coordinated efforts between public health authorities and policymakers are crucial for ensuring lasting progress in curbing smoking-related diseases and addiction.
The seminar was moderated by Nusrat Sabrin Chowdhury, Mental Health Counselor at Athena Limited, and attended by Athena’s Managing Director, Dr Iftekhar E Alam Siddiqui, an expert in addiction treatment.
The event concluded with an engaging panel discussion where specialists from various medical fields reflected on the importance of preventive measures and safer alternatives in the fight against addiction and tobacco use.
The seminar offered valuable perspectives on the future of public health policies in Bangladesh, providing a foundation for ongoing efforts to mitigate the challenges posed by addiction and tobacco use in society.
