JEDDAH, 4 August 2006 — Drug addiction is a serious social problem that has destroyed many families. Research conducted by institutions in Saudi Arabia has shown that drug abuse is a widespread problem in the Kingdom. Most people view addicts to be usually male between the ages of perhaps 18 and 35, but in a growing phenomenon Saudi women, many of them mothers, are also getting addicted to drugs, according to Al-Madinah newspaper.

In fact, there are many mothers that are using narcotics during pregnancies and while breast-feeding thus putting their children’s lives at risk.

Khaled is three-year-old and presently in the care of his aunt, who prefers to remain anonymous. The aunt noticed that Khaled, who is her brother’s son, was continuously crying and behaving strangely and so she took him to a clinic for a checkup.

“I was shocked when the doctor told me that he was addicted to heroin. We later found out that he had grown addicted to drugs through his mother who was a constant abuser. She had started taking heroin because of her husband, my brother.”

She said, “She was taking heroin during pregnancy. When it was time to deliver the baby, she refused to go to hospital in case the police find out and so she had the baby at home.”

“Khaled received treatment in hospital for a very long time. The sad story is that my sister-in-law used to inject herself with heroin and then pass out. Khaled would then come and take the needle and suck the heroin.”

Huda is a 24-year-old Saudi female, whose mother was jailed for possession of illegal drugs. “After my mother went to jail my family and relatives stopped bothering about me. They abandoned me and so I used to go visit a friend where I was introduced to drugs,” she said.

Huda soon became addicted to drugs and her condition went from bad to worse until she came to a point where she admitted herself to hospital for treatment.

“Drug dealers take advantage of young girls and use them to distribute drugs among women on social occasions,” she said, adding that people need to be aware of the effects drugs can have on them.

Dr. Abla Hassaneen, head of the women’s section at the Anti-Drugs Department in Jeddah and manager of Preventive Awareness in Makkah, said that the department has been dealing with many cases involving young children.

“Saudi women are now aware of drugs more than ever before. They have come to a point where they are capable of helping drug addicts by reporting them to the police regardless of whether they are related or not. We have received more than 20 cases of women drug addicts in just two months since the department was open. We deal with each case in total secrecy and we give the addicts all the care they need,” she said.

Dr. Hsssaneen said most of the women that came to the center were introduced into drugs because of men and that many women end up committing crimes.

“Some of the women commit crimes because they have been under the direct influence of drugs and some commit immoral acts to make money to buy drugs. Drugs are the root cause of many crimes and that is something reflected in the statistics that we have.”