Pubdate: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 Source: Jordan Times (Jordan) Contact: 2008 Jordan Press Foundation Website: http://www.jordantimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4884 Author: Khetam Malkawi Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) LOWER HOUSE TO DISCUSS DRUG ABUSE, ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY AMMAN - The Lower House is scheduled to convene today to discuss drug abuse and its impact on the community in response to a memorandum signed by 11 MPs. According to a government report submitted to lawmakers, authorities processed 2,699 drug-related cases during the past 12 months, 540 of them trafficking cases, and 2,159 possession and addiction cases. Authorities apprehended 4,031 Jordanian dealers, of whom 56 were women, and 600 foreigners, including 30 females. In 2008, authorities seized various drugs including hashish, marijuana, cocaine and heroin. In addition, more than 200 drug addicts were referred to rehabilitation programmes, according to the report. MP Salah Zu'bi, who signed the memorandum, said deputies will urge the government to set up mechanisms to prevent drug abuse in addition to establishing modern rehabilitation and treatment centres to deal with addicts. Lawmakers will also meet in a special session on Tuesday to discuss higher education in the Kingdom. According to deputies who signed a memo requesting to discuss the issue, they will focus on the quality of the higher education graduates. "We will also tackle the issue of the country's private universities, which run on a commercial basis regardless of graduates' quality," MP Mubarak Abu Yameen told The Jordan Times. He added that MPs will also address violence in the country's universities, which has become a phenomenon. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake