Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – Two boys, 9 and 11, were recently admitted to Al-Amal Hospital in Riyadh for hashish addiction, Al-Hayat daily reported Sunday. The boys, whose parents had recently divorced, were living with their neglectful father when they became addicted to the drug. Psychiatrist and drug addiction consultant Dr. Fahd Al-Mansour, who treated the boys, said they literally grew up on the street and spent most of their time in bad company. Drug dealers used the boys to deliver hashish, and rewarded their efforts with a small dose of the drug, he added. Al-Mansour said the hospital does not have a proper clinic to treat drug addicts, and could not provide any statistics regarding the number of child addicts in the Kingdom. He said drug addiction for children is extremely dangerous, as a child is more vulnerable and could easily become a victim of sexual abuse. The boys stopped showing up at the hospital after a few sessions, Al-Mansour added.
