The Bioinformatics Department at the Biomedical Informatics College, University of Information Technology and Communications, organized a scientific visit to the Ata’a Al-Sadr Charitable Hospital for Addiction Treatment and Psychological Rehabilitation, and the visit was supervised by Lect. Dr. Maysa’a Ahmad Abdulkareem from the Bioinformatics Department and Assist. Lect. Zaid Ali Sa’eed from the Intelligent Medical Systems Department.

The visit included a scientific lecture delivered by several medical specialists, which covered the concept of addiction, its health and psychological effects, and methods for treatment and rehabilitation, and furthermore, students were introduced to the laboratory tests used to detect narcotic substances and learned about the importance of these tests in monitoring patients’ health status throughout the various stages of treatment.

Students also had the opportunity to participate in a discussion session with several individuals who have recovered from addiction, and during the session, they listened to personal accounts regarding the circumstances that led to addiction, the journey toward seeking treatment, and the various stages experienced on the path to recovery—all of which helped enhance the students’ awareness of the importance of psychological and social support for those struggling with addiction.

The visit aimed to enhance the students’ practical experience and bridge the gap between academic studies and clinical and laboratory settings, and it also sought to highlight the role of medical analyses and data in supporting diagnostic processes and monitoring responses to treatment, thereby contributing to the development of the students’ scientific and professional skills.