Dr. Amr Othman, Director of the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Abuse, revealed that the Fund has provided free treatment services to more than 114,000 addiction patients since the beginning of this year, through its affiliated or partner Al Azima Centers, stressing that Egypt is one of the few countries in the world that provides free addiction treatment despite the economic challenges.
In his interview with Cairo 24, Othman added that synthetic drugs have become the greatest threat to young people, revealing the Fund’s plan to expand treatment centers to reach all governorates of the Republic by 2028, in addition to implementing the experience of compulsory confinement for addiction patients for the first time in Egypt. This comes within the framework of the national strategy to combat drugs that the state is implementing under the auspices of the President of the Republic, with the aim of protecting societal security, supporting those recovering, and protecting new generations from falling into the clutches of abuse.
He stressed that the rates of abuse among employees of the state administrative apparatus decreased from 8% to 1% over the course of 3 years, thanks to the intensification of detection and treatment campaigns, pointing to the continuation of awareness efforts within schools, universities and youth centers to confront the danger of addiction before it begins, and to the text of the dialogue….
- First, what files does the Fund place as its top priorities?
We are working forward to implement the national strategy to combat drugs under the auspices of the President of the Republic. This is the first strategy related to confronting the drug problem in Egypt that has received political sponsorship. This reflects the extent of the interest of the political leadership.
The world has witnessed major changes, and the drug problem has become a burden on all countries of the world, especially synthetic drugs, which have become a threat worldwide, and are among the most dangerous things that threaten young people in all countries of the world.
- How many addiction patients have visited the Anti-Addiction Fund since the beginning of this year?
Treatment services were provided to more than 130,000 “new and follow-up” addiction patients free of charge and in accordance with international standards over a period of 9 months through the Fund’s resolve centers or partners with the hotline 16023. This is a very large and huge number that increases our burden, but we are proud of the trust of addiction patients in the Fund.
Egypt is also one of the few experiences in the world that provides the service for free, despite all the economic pressures the country is going through, but it is keen to provide this service.
- Which governorates have the highest rates of drug abuse?
According to the calls received to the Fund’s hotline, Cairo Governorate came in first place, with a rate of 27%, followed by Giza Governorate with a rate of 19%. This is due to the population density of the two governorates and the presence of many treatment centers affiliated with and partnered with the Fund in them. With regard to the source of knowledge about the addiction treatment hotline “16023”, the Internet came in first, then television, then news websites as one of the most important sources of knowledge about the hotline’s services.
- What are the most commonly used drugs among those who visit the cashier? What are the most dangerous substances?
Now synthetic drugs are the highest abused among those who visit the Fund, but cannabis remains a very dangerous drug, and we have about 50% of addiction patients who use cannabis, which shows the extent of its addiction. A large number of addiction patients are not satisfied with one substance, but rather use more than one substance at the same time.
- Why are synthetic drugs considered the most dangerous among the drugs?
Synthetic drugs are manufactured locally in all countries of the world, so they are widespread, and what is more dangerous is that there is a change due to these drugs. Because now we no longer see abuse as a chain, starting with experimentation, then abuse, then addiction, and that is extremely dangerous.
We are facing unprecedented changes in terms of the severity of addiction and the transition from experience to use, as well as the severity of the drug and its effects. In one major country, 172,000 users died in one year – last year – as a result of drug overdoses. In the entire world, drugs have become a source of funding for crimes by about 50%, and it is considered the largest illicit trade in the world.
The main problem is the change in the type of drug, and the presence of synthetic drugs has become closely linked to psychological disorders. We find multiple disorders caused by them, as well as the severity of the addiction they cause. Syntheticism does not have an immediate addictive experience, and it is also linked to societal security; Because it causes auditory and visual hallucinations in addition to psychological illnesses, and is linked to aggressive behavior.
- In light of the rapid spread of synthetic materials, what is the Fund’s plan to confront them?
We work within the framework of the national strategy to combat drugs, in a number of different axes, starting with the school, which serves as a line of defense for us. We target approximately 10,000 schools annually, in addition to youth centers, and we annually have approximately 1,500 targeted youth centers during the coming period.
We have also launched prevention clubs within major youth centers, which are a very important beacon for awareness, and we also spread to universities through volunteer homes, and we are currently preparing for the virtual vision feature: “You want to try using cannabis, so wear virtual glasses and live the experience and see yourself if you used cannabis, how will your condition be?”… This step will greatly kill curiosity. The love of experimentation is great among young people. Come and watch while you cannot judge distances and you have great slowness in decision-making and you also have schizophrenia and other symptoms.
- The Fund allowed compulsory detention for an addiction patient for the first time. Tell us about that experience?
We have decided not to stand idly by in the face of addiction patients, and voluntary treatment remains the basic standard worldwide. However, there are specific cases that require compulsory intervention, and this step is carried out according to specific standards developed in coordination with the National Council for Mental Health, and in full compliance with legal procedures, as no patient can be forcibly detained except with judicial permission.
We provide compulsory detention in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Population, through specialized centers to receive these cases, where a comprehensive assessment of the patient will first be conducted, and if it is found that he poses a danger to himself or those around him, the Fund will intervene by compulsory detention in accordance with the controls.
- What are the conditions for mandatory detention for an addiction patient?
The mandatory detention of an addiction patient requires that one of his first-degree relatives go to the Imbaba Center for Addiction Treatment, without the patient’s attendance on the same day, in order to obtain written approval for the mandatory detention in accordance with the approved rules, after calling the hotline of the Anti-Addiction Fund No. 16023 or the hotline of the Central Administration of the General Secretariat of Mental Health No. 16328 to find out the details and obtain an appointment to go to the treatment center.
Also among the controls for compulsory detention is that the patient’s condition represents a danger to himself or others, and that he comes to the center in a state of full consciousness at the time specified for detention, to undergo a medical and psychological examination, and his condition is also evaluated by the National Council for Mental Health to determine whether it requires compulsory detention or not, knowing that all services are provided to addiction patients free of charge and in complete confidentiality and in accordance with international standards.
- How are those recovering from substance addiction supported?
The state does not limit itself to treatment only, but also works to support those recovering through “recovery mentor” programs. The recovering person himself becomes a role model for others, and participates in helping other patients seek treatment, which creates a positive circle of support within society.
Today, the addiction patient, if you leave him, can turn into more than one patient, as it is an almost contagious disease, and the patient attracts others. Every patient who is with us, we not only save him, but also save everyone around him from entering the danger of drugs, and the one recovering from addiction has become an energy of light, and a great incentive for patients to come forward for treatment.
The recovered are also being rehabilitated and socially integrated by training them in professional crafts needed by the labor market within the “Work Therapy” program within the Fund’s Resolve Centers, and also providing financing for the projects of the recovered in cooperation with Nasser Social Bank.
- What is the Fund’s plan to expand the establishment of treatment centers?
10 years ago, we had 12 centers in only 10 governorates. Today we have 35 centers in 20 governorates, and soon a new center will be operated on a trial basis in Gharbia, in one of the villages of the Presidential Initiative, Dignified Life, and we are following this approach until we have a treatment center in every governorate.
- When will we have a treatment center in every governorate?
By the end of the National Strategy for Combating Drugs, we will have covered all the deprived governorates of Egypt, meaning that by the year 2028, there will not be any governorate in the Republic deprived of addiction treatment services. Now, even if there is a governorate deprived of treatment services, when he contacts the Fund, we direct him to the nearest treatment center and he gets all the services.
We also do not ignore the developed areas, “alternative to slums,” and we offer awareness programs and many activities, as we have more than 20,000 door-knocking visits in addition to the treatment clinics there, and so far the service has been provided to more than 19,000 patients.
- To what extent does driving under the influence of drugs contribute to increasing road accident rates in Egypt?
Drugs are a major cause of road accidents. For example, hashish, whoever uses it is 3 times more likely to get into an accident. However, if someone uses synthetic drugs, according to the World Health Organization, the chance of an accident is 5 times more likely. We have received more than a thousand calls from truck drivers so far, and the Ministry of Interior is conducting very intensive detection campaigns.
- After about 3 years of implementing the law on dismissing employees who abuse drugs… Has the rate of employees seeking treatment changed?
We have succeeded in reducing the rates of abuse among employees of the state administrative apparatus from 8% to only 1%, which is an exceptional achievement that reflects the seriousness of the efforts made. The number of calls received to request treatment via the hotline has also increased five times, which is extremely important, as it reflects increased community awareness and the strength of the media campaigns that played a pivotal role in encouraging patients to apply for treatment. It is no longer possible for any employee to assume a promotion or administrative position in the state administrative apparatus except after passing the medical examination.
Sudden campaigns are also carried out regularly to inspect workers, including school bus drivers, in order to preserve the lives of students.
- What about abuse among school bus drivers?
The rate of abuse among school bus drivers decreased from 12% in 2017 to only .05%, which is a great success. We continue to intensify campaigns for early detection of abuse among school bus drivers throughout the study period and expand the implementation of campaigns to include different governorates. This is to conduct drug tests for drivers inside school premises, and whoever is proven to be a drug user will be referred to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary legal measures. This comes in parallel with the continued intensification of detection campaigns on highways.
We continue to carry out campaigns in a sudden manner, targeting the screening of school bus drivers. Screening campaigns are being expanded in various governorates, and the necessary legal measures are being taken for those who are found to be abusing narcotic substances. Campaigns are also being expanded to target screening of bus drivers transporting students at private universities and higher institutes, as well as bus drivers who transport public school students. We are notifying the Ministry of Education of the results of the confirmatory samples to take action to dismiss those proven to be abusing drugs, while issuing reports and referring them to the prosecution on charges of driving under the influence of drugs.
