The continuous crackdown of the Interior Ministry on drug dealers has resulted in the arrest of dozens whose aim is to flood the country with poison, reports Al-Qabas daily. The number of cases related to drugs and psychotropic substances increased in the past year to about 3,000 — 423 higher than the number of such cases referred to the Public Prosecution in 2021. The number of cases referred to the prosecution in the last five years — from 2017 to 2022 — reached more than 14,000.
Meanwhile, officials and experts in addiction treatment have warned about the danger of one of the worst types of toxins that infiltrated the country and killed many users — the drug called GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric), as it causes “memory loss, paralysis, hallucination, unconsciousness and depression.” They also affirmed that the ministry arrested a number of people trading in this dangerous drug. They clarified that this drug has medical and therapeutic uses, but these uses have been criminally distorted; indicating it is known as ‘rape drug’ in America, where the perpetrator mixes it in a drink and then offers the drink to the victim.
An addiction treatment clinic in Kuwait affirmed that the drug is usually mixed with liquids or juices; causing paralysis, hallucination and other negative effects. Addiction specialist Mona Al- Yatama warned against abuse of GHB, noting that it is called ‘date rape’ drug. She said the United States of America criminalized its use from 1999 to 2000. She added: “Unfortunately, it is easy to obtain the drug in Kuwait. The drug could be in liquid form or transparent like ice.
The danger lies in its negative use — when it is added to juice or other liquids — as it incapacitates the user, making the latter vulnerable to rape. Most of those who use this type of drug suffer from sexual and moral deviations.” She pointed that GHB has medical and other uses; disclosing it surfaced in various Gulf countries eight years ago. She warned that the drug causes increased heart rates, brain cells damage, hallucination and death if consumed in high doses.
She cited the case of a young man in Kuwait who, after consuming the drug, had hallucinations and stayed in the bathroom with his dogs, eating their food and howling like them. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Al-Ardi, an officer at the Drug Control General Department (DCGD) in the Ministry of Interior stressed that the drug is “very dangerous and falls under a series of high-impact chemicals. Taking two milligrams of the drug is enough to kill the user instantly. One of the effects of taking this drug is loss of consciousness for a long period. It is a psychotropic substance and the consumption of which is criminalized locally and internationally. Whoever uses it is punished according to the law.” He called for concerted efforts of the entire society to combat drugs and report cases through hotline number 1884141, noting that dealing with such reports “is strictly confidential.”
Also, the daily obtained information that the National Bureau for Human Rights is preparing a report for the competent authorities in the country to discuss the importance of granting a license to establish clinics and centers for the treatment of drug addiction, in light of the remarkable increase in the number of addicts. The Complaints and Grievances Committee in the bureau on Thursday met with a number of consultants at Najahat Center for Psychological and Social Counseling to explain developments related to the idea of establishing sanatoriums and clinics as alternatives to the government center, considering the number of addicts increases annually. The bureau stated that the meeting tackled obstacles, which led to the failure of private clinics. It added that the committee is preparing a report, which reviews the addiction file and includes recommendations to address the problem. The report will be submitted to the concerned authorities in order to urge them to take the necessary action combat this scourge that kills hundreds of people annually.
Source- Arab Times.
