JEDDAH — The medical director of Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah has demanded special courts to try drug-related cases. Dr. Khaled Al-Owfi, a consultant psychiatrist, said the average number of female patients admitted to the hospital during the current year was 15, which include new and recurrent cases. Between 100 and 120 female patients visit the hospital for follow-up and these are mostly recurrent cases. Before hospitalization, a female patient's psychiatric condition and addiction is evaluated by a female psychiatrist who studies the patient's detailed case history and her medical record and then evaluate her mental state. Laboratory tests are conducted on blood samples for pregnancy and addictive substances. The patient is evaluated by an internist, psychologist, social worker and a religious guide before a decision is taken on hospitalizing the patient. During the hospitalization period, the specialists strive to remove toxins from her blood and treat her for withdrawal symptoms through medication. Then work is focused on amending the behavioral aspects of addiction. He said the most difficult obstacle in this category of female addicts is the determination of some of them not to complete the hospitalization period or not visiting the outpatient clinics regularly and a lack of awareness among their families on the necessity of treating these cases in Al-Amal Hospital. The patients might prefer to go to private clinics or travel abroad for treatment due to society's attitude and social stigma, he said. Al-Owfi demanded the establishment of specialist courts for drug cases. He said there is a special wing for teenagers who became drug addicts due to being brought up in a family of drug addicts or due to psychological, social or economic pressures or family breakups, lack of supervision or neglect. Al-Owfi said the number of drug addicts is increasing worldwide. There is lack of family awareness, absence of self and external supervision of the individual and his inability to resist peer pressure and other external factors, he claimed. The official pointed out that Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah receives 150 male hospitalization cases monthly including new and recurrent cases. He said psychiatric and medical medicines are available in sufficient quantities. He said psychiatric and addiction clinics need to be expanded in providing their services. This is also the aim of the General Administration for Mental and Social Health in the Ministry of Health. There are many expansion projects being carried out like the 500-bed Al-Amal Mental Health Complex for psychiatric and addiction cases, which will be constructed in northeast Jeddah. Meanwhile, informed sources disclosed that the number of addicts is doubling annually and there is an increase in child addiction under 15. Several cases have been detected involving intermediate students. Sources cited a lack of family guidance and other factors.
