ABU DHABI // A culture of secrecy and shame surrounding drug abuse by women has left medical professionals unsure about the extent of the problem and ill-equipped to treat it, experts say.
According to Dr Fatima al Hamedi, a psychologist at the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Abu Dhabi, most people do not accept that Emirati men can be drug addicts, let alone local women.
"Women are considered diamonds that should be kept safe and many ideas jump to mind - either they were poorly raised or that she's misbehaved," said Dr al Hamedi.
Cultural factors may mask the true extent of the problem, as women are often protected by their families, which may prevent them from independently seeking treatment.
Dr Saliha Afridi, a clinical psychologist who works with substance abuse at the Human Relations Institute in Dubai, said: "Women come [to their families] and say, 'I'm not feeling well' or 'my head hurts' or 'I feel sad'. They will make up something and that will get them in the door to me, then they'll say, 'This is the real issue'."
Women might be more prone to abuse prescription drugs because of their easy availability and social acceptability, Dr Afridi said.
"There needs to be a lot of education. Just because the doctor gives [medication] to you, doesn't mean you can't abuse it," she said.
Women with drug problems have few places to turn, doctors say. The NRC, which only treats Emirati males, refers the few women who contact the centre - mostly about the abuse of prescription medication - to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City's detoxification unit. But the situation is set to improve.
By early next year, the NRC plans to open a 10-bed inpatient unit for women, as well as offer outpatient care, staffed only by women.
The female unit is part of a larger expansion plan that will see a new 200-bed centre in Mohammed Bin Zayed City by 2015. The NRC will also open a youth unit, as well as a criminal justice programme, by early next year.
Because there are no detailed statistics on drug abuse, the expansion was based on anecdotal evidence of need, such as police findings and patients' accounts of substance abuse among women.
"There is no specific data to say we have a problem, and this is the magnitude of the problem," said Dr Hamad al Ghaferi, the executive director of the NRC.
The NRC is in the process of signing an agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to conduct a survey that will assess the magnitude of all drug misuse in the UAE.
Fluctuations in substance misuse among the population needs to be monitored to identify at-risk groups and develop effective prevention strategies, said Sabrina Tahboub-Schulte, an adjunct professor in psychology at the University of Sharjah.
@Email:mdetrie@thenational.ae
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m
8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
Results
2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.
4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.
4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
