Dubai Investigates Internal Drug Addictions, Possibilities for Help
August 25th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Dubai has been in continuous and remarkable growth for decades, exemplifying the inspiration and diligence of the region as it improves services and highlights its cultural specialties to its residents and to the world at large. But as with every area of the world, Dubai experiences as considerable drug addiction issue within its native population, and the effort to help residents overcome their addictions and to create a safer and more prosperous society are on the top of the to-do list for many officials and organizations. Recently, in an effort to gain a better understanding of the nature of the drug use issue within Dubai, a study was conductedby the local police and a social specialist.
The results of the study have returned fairly interesting information; analyzing the precise demographics of drug addicts associated with an array of substances, the research team found that over half had previously been employed in law enforcement, and nearly a quarter were schoolchildren. While both groups may be at a high risk for developing substance abuse issues, the significant percentages indicate a pronounced concern within Dubai, as well as a clear direction for the application of social services and mental health care for addiction. Additionally, the study may spawn investigations into the treatment of scheduled substances within law enforcement facilities.
Among the substances found to be most prevalent in Dubai, medicinal drugs for pain relief and other physical symptoms were shown to be in widespread use. Targeting leniency of medical prescriptions, along with providing greater education about substance abuse and more easily accessible treatment options are likely to be explored in the quest to help Dubai strengthen its growing position as a prosperous home and an attractive destination.
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Elm Grove Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
5 comments so far
it’s interesting to me and alarming at the same time how prevalent the use of prescription drugs are becoming, even over more common narcotics and street drugs.
What’s most shocking is the final paragraph.
More than 90 per cent of the sampled get the medical prescription without undergoing a therapeutic session, treatment or rehabilitation, the study showed.
Why do such a thing? I thought Dubai was awash with money and assumed there would be no shortage of professional counselors or therapists there.
a lot of doctors become addicts. Its so easy to pop a pill but its consequences sometimes leave people with no way out.
Countries like Dubai have to be facing a serious dilemma right about now. As a Muslim country you know that there are many citizens who not only disapprove of drug use but who abhor it. Many Muslims even abstain from alcohol use so I would assume that their feelings about illicit drugs would be much the same. The thing that I see with a country like Dubai is that maybe they have been spending so much money trying to impress the rest of the world with amazing feats of architecture and things like that, keeping up with the Joneses if you will, that perhaps this part of society has largely been left ignored. Now look at the problems which follow that. It is crazy to me that countries with so much money and resources available would have huge problems like these, but I guess we only have to look to our own homefront to know that this is almost always the case. When you lose your core values that is when insiduous problems like these creep in and try to take hold.
Capitalist countries are awash with problems. Money is not a solution for planning. Health is a priority that has to be alloted at an individual level. Only then a nation would realise its importance