Over 66,000 seek addiction treatment in early 2024

Minister of Social Solidarity and Chairperson of the National Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction Nevine El-Qabbaj said Thursday 6/6/2024 in a report during the first five months of 2024, from January to May 2024, 66,147 patients (new and follow-up cases) sought addiction treatment and counselling services via the hotline of Egypt’s National Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction “16023”.

According to the report, those seeking treatment and counselling included 8,208 patients from developed areas (alternatives to slums) such as Al-Asmarat, Al-Mahrousa, Rawdat Al-Sudan, Rawdat Al-Sayeda, Ahalina, Istabl Antar, Bashayer Al-Kheir, October Gardens, Al-Khayala, and Al-Dhahiya in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and Port Said.

The services included follow-up calls, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, and community reintegration. These treatment services are provided to patients for free and according to international standards.

The percentage of males receiving these services was 96.62 percent, while females constituted 3.38 percent, indicating increased trust among females in the hotline’s confidentiality and the effective tr

Patients visited the treatment centres affiliated with the fund and partnered with the hotline “16023.” These centres now amount to 30 in 19 governorates.

The Minister of Social Solidarity added that the hotline received the most calls from Cairo Governorate, accounting for 30.53 percent of callers, followed by Giza Governorate at 16.79 percent.

This is due to the high population density, ease of contact, and proximity to the fund’s centres.

The internet was the most common way people learned about the addiction hotline “16023,” thanks to awareness efforts through the fund’s official Facebook page. Television, news sites, and other media outlets came next.

Amr Othman, Assistant Minister of Social Solidarity and Director of the Fund explained that the analysis of the data of those who received treatment services during the first five months of 2024 showed that the patients receiving treatment began abusing substances at an early age.

Furthermore, the data showed that 15.81 percent of patients started using substances between the ages of 15 and 20, 38.23 percent between 21 and 30, and 37.93 percent between 31 and 40.