Specialists in dependancy remedy have praised the Kuwaiti state’s sturdy efforts in combating drug dependancy however imagine extra might be finished to broaden remedy choices.
They steered that permitting the personal sector to open licensed dependancy remedy clinics may assist authorities efforts, scale back stress on public amenities, and discourage residents from searching for pricey remedy overseas.
In addition they referred to as for increasing Ministry of Well being amenities, growing the variety of out there beds, and opening dependancy remedy branches in each governorate, stories Al-Rai every day,
Specialists warned that dependancy stays considered one of Kuwait’s most critical well being and social challenges, with medicine being a significant explanation for crime.
Official information exhibits that a big share of crimes within the nation are linked to drug use or trafficking. They emphasised that addressing dependancy successfully requires not solely medical intervention but additionally cultural consciousness, household assist, and societal understanding that dependancy is a illness somewhat than an ethical failure.
Dr. Nayef Al-Mutawa, Professor of Scientific Psychology at Kuwait College, defined that dependancy to chemical substances “destroys the mind” and is pushed by the continual want for growing doses, with painful withdrawal signs when consumption stops.
He highlighted the significance of consciousness campaigns and training to stop dependancy and differentiate between varied kinds, noting that cigarette smoking is a type of dependancy whereas cannabis use tends to be recurring. He additionally noticed a correlation between gastric sleeve surgical procedure and elevated alcohol consumption amongst some sufferers.
Former Secretary-Basic of the Supreme Council for Household Affairs, Dr. Maryam Al-Azmi, described dependancy as considered one of society’s most harmful well being and social points, with deep repercussions on households and communities.
She outlined 5 key justifications for permitting personal clinics to function: rising demand for remedy, the necessity for various therapeutic choices, public-private sector integration, encouragement of analysis and innovation, and the discount of social stigma by providing confidential remedy environments.
Vice President of the Najahat Heart for Psychological and Social Consultations, Ghanima Habib Karam, echoed these views, emphasizing that authorities facilities at present lack the capability to satisfy rising demand.
In accordance with Ministry of Well being figures, the whole capability of dependancy remedy facilities stands at solely 500 beds. Consequently, many voters search remedy overseas, incurring heavy monetary prices.
She urged the federal government to approve private-sector participation and to broaden present facilities to accommodate extra sufferers whereas updating addiction-related laws to replicate the medical nature of the situation.
Karam attributed rising dependancy charges amongst youth to unemployment, peer stress, and weak household consciousness, noting that over 30,000 Kuwaiti youths have been unemployed by mid-2025. She defined that dependancy usually results in extreme household tensions and concern for the way forward for affected youngsters.
Citing official statistics, she stated 75 p.c of crimes in Kuwait are linked to medicine, together with theft, assault, and violent habits brought on by the mind’s diminished means to manage feelings underneath the affect of narcotics.
She additionally listed key warning indicators of dependancy amongst youth—similar to adjustments in sleep patterns, lack of curiosity in hobbies, declining tutorial efficiency, theft, and the presence of drug paraphernalia—and highlighted eight components that assist restoration.
These embrace common attendance at assist conferences, psychiatric follow-up, life-style changes, distancing from unfavourable influences, household involvement, and offering recovering people with alternatives to reintegrate into society. Collectively, consultants concluded, these measures—mixed with private-sector engagement—may considerably strengthen Kuwait’s combat in opposition to dependancy and its social penalties.