Global Mindfulness Summit pre-event on effective strategies to deal with drug, tobacco and alcohol

A special event has been arranged in the run-up to the Global Mindfulness Summit 2018, where experts will discuss the value of mindfulness in socially relevant and critical issues. Special emphasis will be on using mindfulness as a preventive tool rather than as a therapeutic intervention from destructive habits such as alcohol, drugs and tobacco use. The event will be held on 17 February, at 4 p.m. at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Destructive habits leading to harmful addictions connected specifically to alcohol, drugs and tobacco are taking a serious toll on young peoples’ lives. Conventional remedies and legislative interventions have had limited impact. Mindfulness which enables training and mastery of the mind, allowing self-control, could help to resist temptations. Mindfulness may prevent habit formation to addictive substances so that young and vulnerable people may not become victims to these trends.

Verité Research Director Dr. Nishan de Mel, SLMA Expert Committee on Alcohol and Tobacco Dr. Sajeewa Ranaweera and Prof. Diyanath Samarasinghe will share their extensive experiences and understanding on the subject at this pre-event, held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. In addition, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr. Rajitha Senaratne will be a Special Speaker at the event.

The Founder of the Sati Pasala Foundation, Ven. Dhammajiva Maha Thero will bring into focus the value of mindfulness and its preventive role in addressing this grave social concern. He will also lead a guided Mindful Sitting Meditation.