Historic Drop: Drug Use Among School Bus Drivers Falls to 0.6% After 10,000 Tests

Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Maya Morsi, announced a historic achievement in road safety, revealing that drug use among school bus drivers has dropped to just 0.6%, down from 12% in 2017. This milestone follows comprehensive testing of 10,000 drivers, carried out in collaboration with the Ministries of Interior, Health, and Education.

Fund Board Reviews Annual Performance

The announcement was made during a board meeting of the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Abuse, which reviewed the fund's performance for the fiscal year 2025/2026 and outlined future strategies. Dr. Morsi emphasized that these campaigns are part of an integrated strategy to enhance road safety and protect students by ensuring drivers are free from substance abuse, thereby boosting safety standards in the school transport system.

Largest Prevention Program in 9,000 Schools

The fund highlighted its key achievements, including the implementation of the largest prevention program against addiction in 9,000 schools, in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Awareness activities were also conducted in 50 public, private, and technological universities, as well as 38 higher and intermediate institutes. Additionally, more than 1,442 field initiatives were carried out in public transport stations, squares, and parks to raise awareness about addiction risks and encourage patients to seek free treatment via the hotline (16023), which operates 24/7.

Over 131,000 Addiction Patients Treated

In support of the most vulnerable groups, the fund provided treatment and rehabilitation services to over 131,000 new and follow-up addiction patients nationwide during the fiscal year 2025/2026. Furthermore, around 8,000 recovering individuals were trained in skills and trades needed by the labor market, as part of community reintegration and relapse prevention programs.

New Organizational Structure Approved

The meeting also witnessed the approval of the fund's new organizational structure, following its restructuring as a public service authority under the Cabinet. The action plan for the fiscal year 2026/2027 was also adopted. Dr. Amr Othman, Director of the fund, outlined the next year's plan, which includes expanding awareness campaigns targeting drivers of all categories about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs, along with its health, social, and legal consequences. The plan also involves launching the first specialized digital platform for addiction awareness.