It is not easy to write about drug addiction in this country. Despite awareness campaigns, TV programs and movies that try to tackle the issue, little is known about why and how people, especially youth, start abusing drugs and become addicts. Essam Youssef’s new novel, Quarter Gram, which is based on a true story, bravely confronts the issue. In addition to describing the various kinds of drugs available in the country and where and how they are obtained in Cairo, Youssef provides insight into the lives of drug addicts and dealers and how and why they start using and abusing drugs.
Essam Youssef is the son of Abdel Tawab Youssef, a renowned Egyptian writer who wrote over 1,000 novels and short stories. Released in April 2008, Quarter Gram is Youssef’s first published novel. Shortly after, the 740-page book became the best seller in Cairo’s biggest bookstores. Quarter Gram will be translated into English in January 2009, in addition to five other languages. A film adaptation is also in the works for 2009, while a TV series is planned for 2010. A Dictionary of Addiction
Written in colloquial Arabic, Quarter Gram is the story of five best friends growing up in the 1980s and 1990s who start abusing drugs at an early age, and whose addictions eventually ruin their lives. The book follows the five addicts and their families throughout their painful journey to try and overcome drug addiction. Ultimately, one dies, one loses his job, another loses his girlfriend. All rob their families, become drug dealers and destroy their dreams. Each of the five characters sees friends die tragically, turn to crime and get sent to jail. Only one of the five friends recovers, after his family admits him to a rehab clinic. Without preaching or lecturing, Youssef gives addicts hope that it is possible to overcome dependency on drugs. He introduces readers to the world of Narcotics Anonymous, a worldwide organization that holds over 43,000 meetings every week in 127 different countries and targets recovering drug-abusers. Youssef never portrays addicts as evil criminals whom society should punish or hide from view. On the contrary, his book takes you into the world of the sufferer and gives you the chance to see with his eyes, listen with his ears and feel with his heart. No More Denial
“People’s knowledge of addiction in Egypt is like a small and dispersed puzzle,” says Youssef. “My book solves it, to give a complete picture of what addiction is really like. Drug addiction has always been a severe problem in Egypt, but people are very good at living in denial.” The author spent three years researching drug abuse and addiction in the country. He visited most hospitals treating addicts and met with physicians who supervise their cases. Youssef also gathered data on drug addiction from official sources, including the ministries of health and population, interior and justice as well as the Cabinet. According to Youssef, there are an estimated six million addicts in Egypt. However, he believes that the statistics are not entirely accurate, as the data only includes addicts who were jailed or admitted into hospitals; it barely touches on the growing number of young abusers in schools and universities. Even though the problem is gaining some media attention, people are still unaware of its complexities. As Youssef says, “one cannot fight something that one doesn’t fully understand.” Youssef believes that society overlooks the nation’s addiction problem, noting that the government’s allocated budget for treating addiction is insufficient. The lack of information and awareness, is what inspired Youssef to write the book. “Knowledge and experience do not count until you pass them to others who could benefit from them.” Readers Respond
Quarter Gram was garnered praise, many commending Youssef’s efforts to tackle the addiction problem from the addict’s point of view. Mohamed El-Ruby, supervisor of Diwan bookstore in Zamalek, says that the book sold more than 50 copies in less than a week, which is almost unheard of. The majority of the customers buying the book were between the ages of 18 and 25 — a group that generally does not read as much as other age groups. Several fan clubs and groups dedicated to Quarter Gram have been launched on the social networking website Facebook. In the two largest groups alone, more than 3,000 members are posting comments and opinions about the book. Holding a copy of Youssef’s book at Diwan, Mohamed Khaled, 26, said that the best thing about Quarter Gram is that it doesn’t preach to young people: “Preaching is a boring approach that doesn’t work.” Osman Shokry, an actor and director, was purchasing a second copy for a relative. He felt that Quarter Gram appeals to people because “they need to read a real life story. It encourages [addicts] to help themselves and start making things right after believing that their life is over.” As a follow-on to Quarter Gram, Youssef promises an even more interesting and daring sequel titled Thirty-seven. et Getting Help
Some may read Quarter Gram and see themselves or their friends on the pages. They wouldn’t be alone. Nour Salah, executive director of Narconon Egypt, conducted his own research into the extent of local drug addiction and was stunned by the results. Indicating just a fraction of the problem, he claims there are nearly half a million heroin addicts in the country. “I imagined that in Egypt our problem is limited to hash and bango [marijuana] only,” Salah told Egypt Today in November, “but I discovered that there is everything, ecstasy and everything you could imagine. Every drug and substance that is available [in the US] is available in Egypt, except for one thing, that is LSD, thank God.” If you or someone you know is suffering from a drug addiction, there are a number of resources that can help. Narconon Sondos Rehabilitation Center Bitter Lake, between Ismailia and the Suez Canal Tel: +2 (02) 2667-9600 or (010) 267-1671 Email: info@ narconon-egypt.com www.narconon-egypt.com Narcotics Anonymous hotline: 012-312-0993 Cairo
Dr. Ahmed Okasha Clinic: 3 Shawarby St., Downtown Tel: +2 (02) 2393-4446 Ahmed Okasha’s Health Resort for Psychiatry El-Tagammuah El-Awal Tel: +2 (02) 2920-0900 Dr. Fouad Aboul Magd Clinic: 183 Tahrir St., Downtown Tel: +2 (02) 2794-7527 El-Maadi Hospital for Mental Health Masr-Helwan Agricultural Road Tel: +2 (02) 2358-4221 Dr. Nasser Loza Clinic: 55 Abdel Moneim Riad St., Tahrir Square Tel: +2 (02) 3304-7453 Behman Hospital Helwan Tel: +2 (02) 2555-7551 Alexandria
Dr. Adel El Shaasha’ei El-Nozha Hospital El-Hadra El-Gedida Tel: + 2 (03) 380-1771 or (03) 380-1770 Guidance and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Treatment Mahtet El Raml Tel: +2 (03) 484-4169 Psychiatric Hospital El Nabawy Street, Maamora Tel: +2 (03) 325-6824 Alexandria Resort for Psychiatry and Drug Rehabilation Omar El-Mokhtar Street, off El-Kaffoury Road, King Mariout Tel: +2 (03) 455-1772 | 
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# 31
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