closure of 11 unauthorized centers of addiction

CAIRO – 4 January 2019: The Main Directorate for Drugs Control triggered a campaign targeting unlicensed addiction centers all over the country.

These efforts bore its fruits as 11 unlicensed were discovered and completely shut down. These centers are located in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez, Ismailia, among other regions.

The campaign unveiled the lack of any medical supplies and equipments, Emergency rooms, Intensive Care Units (ICU), medical team or nurses in addition to plenty of medicines without any medical supervision.

Moreover, there were no files for the patients or the authorized papers of these centers or even endorsement from patients to receive treatment.

These quick actions taken by the Directorate are accepted from individuals as an immense step to protect addicted people.

Major Ahmed Kholy, the former vice of Interior Minister, said, “These invalid and unauthorized centers are considered to be a real danger and fatal issue that should be treated and ended as soon as possible. It is directed by former addicted people who run it without any supervision of specialists or evens nurses,” adding, “Such centers lead our youth to unwanted and ambiguous future. Addicted people are mere victims who need the sufficient help and care to overcome their problems. Instead they are exploited beaten inside these centers.”

Furthermore, Kholy stated, “Women are sexually abused; what is worse is that centers might facilitate the access of drugs and alcohols.”

In the same vein, the Security Expert Rifaat Abdel Hamid said, “These hospitals or centers are not legal. Almost all these centers are managed by irresponsible people who have no idea about medicine or ways of treatment.”

“Sometimes they act as if they are specialists. Yet their careless attitude reveals their devil intentions.”

These centers locate in far areas or inside private buildings or villa. Managers of these centers or hospitals blackmail parents of the addicted to get extra money yet all gets in vain as they return back to addiction instead of beating it.