Amman Arab University (AAU) Pharmacy Faculty Organizes the Third Anti-Smoking Awareness Day
As part of Amman Arab University’s commitment to promoting a sustainable health culture on campus and empowering students to adopt healthy lifestyles free from harmful behaviors—especially smoking—and in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day, the Faculty of Pharmacy, in cooperation with the Higher Committee for Combating Smoking and Drugs and the Faculty of Business, organized the Third Anti-Smoking Awareness Day under the slogan: “Towards a Smoke-Free University Campus.”
The event was attended by Professor Dr. Rana Abu Hweij, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Chair of the Higher Committee for Combating Smoking and Drugs, Dr. Ohoud Al-Khasawneh Dean of the Faculty of Business, representatives from the Hussein Cancer Center and the Jordanian National Anti-Smoking Society, as well as a number of faculty members, administrative staff, and students.
The awareness day included a lecture titled “Engineering Addiction: How Tobacco Companies Create Smokers,” presented by pharmacist Raeda Abu Samak, a graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Amman Arab University and Head of the Awareness and Logistics Support Committee at the Jordanian National Anti-Smoking Society. During the lecture, she discussed the neurological mechanisms of addiction, the tools used to shape addictive behavior, and the strategies tobacco companies employ to target young people and adolescents. She also highlighted deceptive marketing practices aimed at the most vulnerable groups in society.
The event also featured an awareness competition on the harms of smoking and its health and social consequences. The competition was held in two stages and included student representatives from seven university faculties: Pharmacy, Engineering, Applied Medical Sciences, Aviation Sciences, Business, Information Technology, and Educational and Psychological Sciences. The Faculty of Pharmacy won first place, the Faculty of Engineering came second, and the Faculty of Business secured third place.
In addition, the results of the “Creativity and Entrepreneurship” competition organized by the Faculty of Business were announced. The competition focused on designing anti-smoking awareness posters, aiming to enhance students’ understanding of the dangers of smoking and encourage them to use their creative skills to produce impactful health-awareness messages that serve the community.
For her part, Dr. Abu Hweij emphasized the leading role played by Amman Arab University in spreading health awareness and promoting a culture of smoking cessation among students. She noted that the continuation of such events aligns with the university’s vision of providing a healthy and safe campus environment free from tobacco and its derivatives, while strengthening students’ responsibility toward their own health and that of society.
She added that the university remains committed to implementing regulations and procedures aimed at reducing smoking on campus, while supporting awareness and educational initiatives targeting young people. She stressed the importance of students serving as ambassadors of positive change and promoting health awareness among their peers, as well as the need for cooperation among communities, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations to raise awareness about the risks and negative impacts of smoking on individuals and society.
The event concluded with the recognition of the students who organized the Third Anti-Smoking Awareness Day and those who participated in the competitions, in appreciation of their efforts and active involvement in anti-smoking initiatives. The positive atmosphere reflected a spirit of cooperation and constructive competition among the faculties.
This event reaffirmed Amman Arab University’s ongoing commitment to promoting health awareness and combating harmful behaviors, in line with its vision of preparing an aware and responsible generation capable of creating positive change within both the university and the wider community.
