RIYADH, 28 August 2007 — An American expert on the rehabilitation of drug addicts has offered his services in setting up a rehab program in the Kingdom and other Gulf states, where cases of relapse have been found even after drug abusers have been treated for addiction and discharged.
Simak Afshar, founder of the New Life Center, made the offer on the Saudi TV’s Second Channel during an interview with Dr. Parisa Saed Alhashim, a clinical psychology doctor from the US.
Dr. Alhashim also disclosed during her regular program, “With Dr. Parisa,” that a survey conducted in Taif two years ago found that one-third of 400 high school students (both boys and girls) were suffering from anxiety and severe depression.
Such a frame of mind, she said, predisposes the victim to drug abuse to cope with the problem, which then degenerates into chronic addiction. Tension at home also forces girls to turn to drugs as an escape route to overcome anxiety and depression.
Afshar made the offer to set up such a facility in the Kingdom after Dr. Alhashim told him that despite drug therapy, some victims relapsed into their old habit after a brief recovery.
According to Afshar, a former drug addict, the relapse occurs when the victim has no access to effective counseling or a support group consisting of former drug addicts. “Interaction with such a group helps him to unburden himself. You need to share your anxiety with other members of the support group, which is unfortunately missing in the Gulf states. That is why the rate of relapse here is rather high,” he said.
Another point that emerged from the interview was that a high level of awareness in the family could go a long way in recognizing the symptoms of drug abuse and taking preventive action as well as extending emotional support. However, parents have told Saudi TV during previous interviews that they were unable to recognize the symptoms when their children missed school, got poor exam results, would not eat properly, lose weight, and become withdrawn and recluse.
Afshar said the authorities in charge of narcotics prevention need to be alert since strawberry and chocolate candy laced with cocaine was being smuggled into the region. “Initially, a user becomes euphoric as he tastes such candies. Once he gets used to them, the effect wears off, prompting the victim to try the drugs in combination, such as cocaine with heroin, or any other mix,” he said.
Afshar said that besides raising the level of awareness of a drug addict through group therapy, drug abusers also need sponsors (an elder brother, for example) who could work with the person in quitting the habit.
Elaborating on his point, Alhashim said what is required is a holistic approach in dealing with the problem. This includes getting information on the family background, the level of education of the parents and children, domestic situation (whether there is any tension at home), and other relevant information that would help the counselor get a complete picture before undertaking the treatment program.
“Such a macro approach is unfortunately lacking in the Gulf states,” Alhashim said, adding that the setting up of a chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous would be a useful tool in the war on drugs.
