Prosecutors in Dubai say the average age of drug addiction in the UAE is now between 14 and 20 years old, based on what they are witnessing.
Officials said social media platforms are fuelling teenage drug abuse, with many hooked on illegal substances including tramadol, Captagon, magic mushrooms and hash, among others.
They are urging parents to be extra vigilant in monitoring their children's online activities and engaging in open conversations about the risks associated with drug use.
Abdullah Al Raisi, assistant chief prosecutor at the Anti Narcotics Department at Dubai Public Prosecution, called the trend a "grave issue".
"The average age of addiction is between 14 and 20 years old based on our investigations in cases," he said at a public lecture held in Dubai last week.
"This is a grave issue that we must address promptly."
Teenagers like to explore new things including illegal drugs, thinking one time consumption will not turn them into addicts, said Mr Al Raisi.
"It is rare to see someone trying a drug once. Usually, people become drug addicts without noticing," he added.
Mohammed Al Hammad, attorney general at Deira Prosecution in Dubai, noted that it was hard to monitor teenagers online, but that parents should be extra vigilant.
"It becomes harder to monitor the teenagers in the digital era as more youngsters are exploring social media platforms and meeting new friends who might lure them into trying illegal drugs," he said.
"They are what we call a coincident friend, who might show up in the teen's life for 10 minutes through social media and then have a devastating impact."
Seeking help
A 36-year-old Emirati man who consumed a variety of illegal substances from the age of 14, said that the National Rehabilitation Centre in Abu Dhabi helped him to recover from a 16-year drug addiction.
"I was curious and wanted to explore consuming drugs due to the influence of bad friends," he told The National.
"I went to the rehab centre asking for treatment after sustained physical and mental risks due to addiction. My family also suffered because of that."
The former addict, who identified himself only as MS, said that after a long course of treatment, he became an active member at the rehab centre to help newcomers.
"It is important to have a stable family and educate teenagers about the dangers of illegal drugs and what they should do if someone speaks to them about drugs," he said.
"Parents should share their time with their children in sport and social activities."
Harrowing consequences
A mother in the UAE recalled the "sheer terror" she felt when she discovered that her 14-year-old son was found unconscious on the street.
The woman, originally from Syria and who wanted to remain anonymous, said that her son had fallen into the wrong crowd and was allegedly encouraged to experiment with hash, an illegal drug he had purchased from someone on Instagram.
"I could never have imagined being told about my 14-year-old son being found unconscious near a mosque in Sharjah," she told The National.
"The sheer terror I felt in that moment is indescribable. My brother called me that morning and told me my son had called him in a vague and tired voice at around 4am that day asking for help."
Her son was not making much sense, but the brother managed to understand enough to locate him.
"What I later found out shocked me even more. My son had been under police surveillance for some time," she said.
She said the officers were incredibly supportive, and thanked them for their intervention. Officers were also able to locate the drug dealer following the son's co-operation.
The four days her son spent in prison was a life-altering experience for him, she said.
"He has become more cautious about who he associates with, both online and in the real world," she added.
"While those days were harrowing for all of us, they served as a pivotal turning point for my son. We had many open conversations about the consequences of his actions, not just legally but also how it impacts his future and his family."
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MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
SNAPSHOT
While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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