Friday, Aug 03, 2012
Dubai: Police are extending a helping hand to recovering drug addicts by offering them food coupons for the month of Ramadan. The gesture is part of a wider support programme offered by police throughout the year.
Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi Al Asmawi, director of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics at Dubai Police, pointed out that the support programme offering financial and emotional support is offered to all recovering drug addicts throughout the year to prevent them from backsliding into old, destructive habits.
“The holy month of Ramadan is the time to ask for forgiveness from Allah and, through our humanitarian efforts, we want to provide recovering drug addicts with the opportunity to repent about their old ways and to be able to fulfil their obligation of fasting,” said Maj Gen Al Asmawi.
He pointed out that the role of police in the fight against drugs is not only limited to arresting traffickers and foiling their plans, but also extends to humanitarian efforts that help recovering addicts start a new life.
As part of the Ramadan programme, carried out in coordination with the Beit Al Khair Society and Emirates Cooperative, 46 former addicts were offered additional food coupons worth Dh750.
The number of recovering addicts registered with Dubai Police has fallen from 116 in 2011 to 84 in 2012, according to the Anti-Narcotics Department.
Abdeen Taher Al Awadi, general manager of the non-governmental organisation Beit Al Khair Society, explained that the organisation is involved in a range of humanitarian efforts all year round to support recovering addicts.
The financial and emotional aid, Al Awadi emphasised, is to help former addicts regain a sense of self-worth and to provide them the reassurance that they are surrounded by a strong support group ready to help them at every step.
“Each person is given a monthly allowance that starts from Dh1,500 and the amount varies depending on whether the former addict has children to support or on the financial stability of his family,” he explained.
Al Awadi also pointed out that the NGO, which operates around the country, also supports families that find themselves in tough situations because the household is serving a prison sentence either for drug abuse or for failing to pay off loans.
“Providing financial aid is extremely important because when the family loses its breadwinner’s income, the children are more likely to commit crimes and possibly turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. We do our best to minimise such destructive behaviour by providing families with financial support on a monthly basis, but it also depends on the family’s stability and the child’s psychological welfare.”
By Mariam M. Al Serkal Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
