EXTRA BEDS LAID ON FOR DRUG ADDICTS

Extra hospital beds are being set aside to cope with growing numbers
of drug addicts, it was revealed yesterday. An additional 20 beds are
being provided as part of a major upgrade of the Almoayyed Drug and
Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit, at the Psychiatric Hospital.

The GDN reported exclusively on how a shortage of beds and a surge in
the number of new drug addicts is threatening to cripple Bahrain's
drug treatment service.

The number of new heroin addicts registering at the unit quadrupled
last year from 44 in 2002 to 165, while the number of follow-up cases
rose from 2,934 to 4,439 - the highest ever.

A first floor ward was added to the unit in 1998, but although it can
accommodate over 15 beds, it has never been used due to a staffing
shortage.

These problems were discussed yesterday in a meeting between
specialists from the unit and Health Minister Dr Nada Haffadh.

As a result, an extra 20 beds are being added to the 16 which are
already available.

Unit head Dr Abdulnabi Derbas told the GDN yesterday that the meeting
was fruitful and pinpointed some real short-term solutions.

"Dr Haffadh has promised to add 20 new beds to the unit, which
currently has 16 beds only," he said.

"The beds will be put in the unit's top floor, which is currently
unused.

"We will get 10 next year and 10 the year after.

"This will help us separate old and new patients and divide them based
on the severity of their case.

"She has also promised to employ a counsellor, a psychologist, an
occupational therapist and another doctor besides me at the unit by
early next year."

Dr Derbas said the current drug treatment team will receive further
training, which will ensure they are up to the task.

Part of that will focus on the rehabilitation of former addicts.

"The unit doesn't offer medical treatment only - it offers
rehabilitation too," he said.

"But, regretfully, this part isn't being taken care of well at the moment."

Dr Derbas also said the Minister pledged to push for a Drugs Law,
which would also lead to the formation of the National Committee to
Combat Drugs.

"The committee will help ease our role as it will involve specialists
from various concerned establishments who will join hands with us to
combat this problem," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Haffadh told the GDN that she had many plans - including
turning the unit into a fully-fledged drug treatment centre.

"We need to tend to existing problems first before taking this step,"
she said.

"I am sure that with the team I have we will be able to do so."