Doctor's plea to reform federal narcotics law



DUBAI // The country's drug laws are "counter-productive", a senior government official says.

Under the current legislative system it takes rehab patients eight months to reach a professional, said Dr Saleha bin Dheban, the director of Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital in Dubai and the director of rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Worse, she added, many people convicted of drug crimes are simply punished - not rehabilitated - and end up back in court as repeat offenders.

"The federal anti-narcotics law, which was put in place in 1995, is counter-productive and presents itself as more of a hurdle than anything else," she said this week at a conference in Dubai.

Dr bin Dheban said the way the law divided responsibilitiesfor fighting drug use was not helpful.

Drug users are dealt with by the ministries of Interior and Justice when they are caught and punished; by the Ministry of Health when they are being rehabilitated; and by the Ministry of Social Affairs when they are being reintegrated into society.

She said there is a lack of understanding of the difference between a drug user and a drug addict, who must be treated differently.

"The absence of a holistic service and the division of responsibilities between all these ministries makes it difficult for addicts and users to gain access to the system," she said. "An average of eight months is taken to reach a government rehabilitation committee, because a person is caught and tried, then imprisoned, and then referred to a rehabilitation.

"This is a long time and professional intervention in the UAE is needed from the start."

The law takes a narrow two-tiered approach to drug consumption, she said. On the legislative side, drug use is criminalised and punished. On the medical side, it is treated as an illness.

Dr bin Dheban said this drops drug users into the middle of a four-way junction: "They can go to the legal system, or to jail, or to their families, or approach the health system".

But no matter what they choose, she said, all drug users, whether seeking rehabilitation or not, have a chance at landing in prison.

Dr bin Dheban is calling for:

- A review of the 1995 law.

- People convicted of drug use to be separated from the general prison population, in order to avoid the spread of addiction in both directions.

- Direct, professional intervention when police arrest users, so that the rehabilitation process starts before they reach prison.

- The provision of social welfare and psychiatric consultation for rehabilitated individuals, as well as the recruitment of more people providing these services.

- A structured way to handle the pardons issued every year for many narcotics prisoners, in order to keep them under watch and rehabilitation.

"Users who approach us are treated confidentially but if they are arrested red-handed, we do not continue to treat them unless police permission is granted," to a hospital official said.

There are only two rehabilitation facilities in the country: a programme at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, and the nation's only site dedicated to rehab, the National Rehabilitation Centre in Abu Dhabi.

Al Amal Hospital is the only rehabilitation centre for drug users from the Northern Emirates. The hospital operates under the Ministry of Health, and those who seek rehabilitation are not immune from prosecution.

The National Rehabilitation Centre this week said it was adding 40 beds to its current capacity of about 30. In October, officials announced plans for a 200-bed rehabilitation centre almost five times the size of the current one. Work is to start in April, with the facility due to open in 2014.

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

How to help

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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.