CAIRO - 11 June 2026: A report was released on the free of charge treatment services provided to addiction patients across Egypt, showing that a total of 69,845 patients (both new and follow-up) received services during the first five months of 2026.
This report shows the efforts of the hotline services of the Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Substance Abuse “16023.”
The services included follow-up calls, counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.
These services are provided free of charge and in accordance with international standards.
“Males comprised 97 percent of the beneficiaries, while females comprised 3 percent,” according to the report, received by Dr. Amr Othman, Director of the Fund.
The report also showed that the patients visited the Fund's 35 treatment centers, located in 20 governorates, which are partnered with the hotline.
Treatment services are also available to any addiction patient residing in the newly developed areas (replacement from informal settlements) such as Asmarat, Mahrousa, Rawdat al-Sudan, Rawdat al-Sayeda, Ahalina, Khayala, Bashayer al-Khair, and Hadayek October.
Figures about addiction treatment centers
According to calls received by the Fund's hotline, Cairo Governorate ranked first, accounting for 26 percent, followed by Giza Governorate at 21 percent.
This is attributed to the population density of both governorates and the presence of numerous treatment centers affiliated and partnered with the Fund.
The internet was the primary source of information about the free treatment services, reflecting the Fund's online awareness efforts through its official Facebook page, with approximately 2 million followers, as well as its activities across various media platforms.
Television and news websites were also among the most important sources of information about the hotline's services.
Figures about drugs used
According to an analysis of data from beneficiaries during the first five months of 2026, the most prevalent drug among those calling for treatment was hashish (63 percent), followed by synthetic drugs (crystal meth, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, and methamphetamine), tramadol, heroin, and polydrug use (using more than one drug).
The patients themselves (35 percent) were the primary callers to the hotline (16023), followed by their mothers (12 percent) and siblings (25 percent), indicating a growing trust in the hotline's services among patients and their families.
Dr. Amr Othman explained that the factors driving substance abuse, according to the hotline results, were primarily bad friends and curiosity.
Regarding the factors driving treatment, according to the hotline results, the most prominent was deteriorating of health at 35 percent, followed by improving one's image, thinking about the future, fear for one's children and family, problems at work, and fear of dismissal and legal action.
He pointed out that the addiction treatment hotline "16023" continues to receive calls from any employee who uses drugs.
Such employees are considered patients and provided with free and completely confidential treatment services without any legal repercussions, as long as they voluntarily seek treatment before the detection campaigns arrive at their workplace. Otherwise, legal action will be taken.
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