JEDDAH: Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah receives between four and nine people a day seeking help for addiction.

Of this number, there are between one and two women seeking assistance, a source at the hospital was quoted as saying in a local publication recently. There are no accurate figures for the number of addicts nationwide, he said.

He said there are fewer women than men seeking treatment; with most addicts influenced by male relatives including fathers, brothers and husbands. “All cases are dealt with confidentially, especially of women,” he said.

He said there was an increased awareness among Saudi families about addiction. Families are ready to seek treatment for their loved ones, although there are still several people undergoing treatment without the knowledge of their families, he said.

The female section of the hospital in Jeddah is relatively new, with 11 beds, nine of which are allocated for inpatients, one for observation and one for private care, he said.

He said women and girls are addicted to various types of drugs. Young women between 18 and 26 are addicted to hashish and alcohol, while women between 26 and 35 are addicted to tranquilizers such as valium.

The hospital offers various treatments including detoxification for up to two weeks at the hospital without home visits. Then there is another two-week treatment period to help the patients’ bodies recover.

The third stage takes three weeks and involves counseling. After they are released, patients begin outpatient therapy every week during the first month and every fortnight after that period, to consolidate the treatment.