‘Alcoholics can be lonely and isolated’, UAE counsellor says

Alcohol issues have led to clients suffering memory blackouts, relationship breakdowns and brushes with the law, says one counsellor in Dubai.

Johanna Griffin, personal development consultant at LifeWorks counselling centre, says expats can be lonely and isolated. Jaime Puebla / The National

DUBAI // Loneliness, financial worries and stressful jobs are among the factors which lead young people to abuse alcohol, experts say.

Johanna Griffin, a personal development consultant at Dubai’s LifeWorks counselling centre, said the average age of her clients is now the 30s, rather than 40s.

“If I had to look at 10 years of working here I have noticed a younger crowd with serious alcohol problems,” she said.

She said factors of an expatriate lifestyle cause many to turn to drink.

“The main problem in the UAE is first of all being an expat community – this is sometimes hard for certain people,” said Ms Griffin.

“They come and can be quite lonely and isolated.”

This exacerbates underlying problems that existed before they came to the UAE, she said.

“Sometimes there are issues around addictions previously and sometimes I have noticed there is not as much support here – they do not have family or extended family.

“Sometimes they have stressful jobs and financial difficulties,” said Ms Griffin.

Alcohol issues have led to her clients suffering memory blackouts, relationship breakdowns and brushes with the law, such as drink driving.

“Road traffic accidents are very prevalent,” she said. “That is one of the things I talk about a lot because there is zero tolerance here. People end up in jail. People have had some serious situations concerning drink driving.”

She sees more than 50 people a month for alcohol addiction, and they are mainly expatriates.

It can be one big trauma in someone’s life or a combination of problems or people can use it as a crutch, she said.

Ms Griffin encourages AA and group therapy meetings. “It is something I support. We have group meetings at Lifeworks as well.”

Dr Mohammed Al Garhy, a consultant psychiatrist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, is head of the hospital’s chemical dependency unit, which helps treat Emiratis with addictions who have either chosen to seek help or who have been referred by police.

Dr Al Garhy said that after treatment he also recommends addicts attend AA or group therapy.

“We encourage them to actually attend AA meetings or whatever educational meetings are available,” he said.

He said a benefit of AA was that it helped all nationalities.

“AA, for one thing, provides a service. Of course we approve of AA services and the work that it does.”