An awareness seminar titled "Say No to Drug Addiction" was held on March 10, 2026, at Secondary School No. 21 in the Yasamal district of Baku, organized by the Juvenile Preventive Work Division (JPWD) of the Baku City Main Police Department.

Mirsadiq Mukhtarov, a staff member of the Psychology Department at Khazar University and psychologist at the Khazar Psychological Service Centre, provided detailed information at the seminar on the factors contributing to the development of substance dependency. He noted that addiction cannot be explained solely by an individual's personal vulnerabilities, as the problem arises from the combined effect of biological, psychological, and social factors. According to the psychologist, traumatic experiences during childhood, insufficient parental supervision, tense family relationships, and emotional neglect are among the primary factors that increase the risk of addiction in later life. In addition, low self-esteem, depressive mood, anxiety, and a lack of adequate stress-coping skills were identified as psychological factors influencing this process. It was further emphasized that early detection, the establishment of psychological support programmes, parental education, and the strengthening of preventive measures in educational institutions are of great importance in preventing cases of addiction. The creation of a healthy social environment and the instilling of effective stress-management skills in young people were highlighted as one of the key priorities in this field.

The event was attended by Ibrahim Ismayilov, Police Colonel and Head of the Juvenile Preventive Work Division of the Baku City Main Police Department; Aysel Hajiyeva, Police Senior Lieutenant and Inspector of the same division; Nabi Najafov, Police Lieutenant Colonel and Head of the Juvenile Preventive Work Division of the Yasamal District Police Department; and Fidan Atakhanli, Sociologist at the Baku Narcology Centre.

A wide exchange of views on the topic took place at the event, followed by a question-and-answer session.