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Abu Dhabi: Some 600 drug addicts have been healed and rehabilitated in complete secrecy over six years at the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Abu Dhabi, its chairman has disclosed.
Dr Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Rais said the NRC’s future plan envisages increasing bed capacity to 200, opening units for treatment and rehabilitating non-nationals.
The NRC was established by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan to provide integrated health and medical care and rehabilitation for drug addicts.
"This month, we will open a unit for women in collaboration with the family development foundation. A clinic for taking care of smokers is also in the pipeline,” Dr. Al Rais said on Tuesday while launching a nation-wide anti-drug campaign at the Emirates Palace.
“The one-year ‘Yes to Life’ awareness drive will be the largest and most comprehensive, multi-faceted anti-drug campaign of its kind in the Arab world,” he added.
According to him, the campaign will alert members of the community against the dangers of drug addiction, educate them about the causes and include treatment, rehabilitation and prevention methods.
"The drive will take off from Abu Dhabi to every family across the world, carrying the UAE's message against dangers of this devastating addiction. The aim is to raise standards of awareness in order to protect the minds and the health of our youth,” he explained.
The NRC also launched five awards for the best media coverage, best feature, best investigative report, best TV programme and best radio programme. Winners will be honoured in a colourful gala at the end of the year.
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