DUBAI // An increasing number of drug addicts are abusing prescription medications to avoid prosecution, police officials and health experts say.
In some cases, they say, inattentive doctors and a lack of clear regulations have made it easy to get such drugs in quantities that should not be allowed.
"Addiction to prescription medicine makes up the largest proportion of the total number of addicts in Dubai," said Dr Juma Al Shamsi, the head of awareness and precaution at the Dubai Police anti-narcotics department, without giving numbers.
Dr Thuraya Balhaj, a psychiatrist at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said it was easy to obtain large amounts of prescription medication because of a loophole in the law.
People caught with such medicines were not punished, she said, if it was part of their treatment.
"They are considered a safer alternative and there is easier access to them," she said. "If they get prescription medication, they are less likely to get into bigger trouble."
An Emirati drug addict, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many of his friends who were addicts had shifted to prescribed medicines for those reasons.
"Not many people take 'traditional' drugs any longer," the 34-year-old said. "They all advise each other to shift to prescribed medicine.
"They say, 'Why get yourself in trouble with police when you can get almost the same effect with prescribed medicines, and a medical report will get you through the test carried out with the anti-drug department?'"
The Dubai Police anti-narcotics department regularly tests drug-addicted former convicts to ensure they are not returning to substance abuse.
The department does not take action when traces of certain prescription medicines are found in the body if the former inmate has a medical report or prescriptions.
"Drug addicts call these reports a licence as it would get them through the test," the addict said.
Benzodiazepines and opioids are the most commonly abused prescription medications, experts say.
Sold under the trade names Valium and Xanax, benzodiazepines are usually prescribed for anxiety or sleeping problems.
Opioids are painkillers prescribed to patients suffering from any form of chronic physical pain. Tramadol is an opioid that has recently become popular with drug abusers, Dr Balhaj said.
Dr Al Shamsi said there were some psychiatrists who were driven by profit, providing heavy medications for patients and even charging them for medical reports or prescriptions under false names.
"Some [patients] even ask for specific medications and the doctor prescribes them without questioning," he said.
The department regularly notifies the Ministry of Health if it suspects a clinic of illegal practices and some have been shut down, though he declined to give specific cases.
Dr Al Shamsi said while it was easy to penalise clinics for clear violations of the law, catching professionals operating this way was much more difficult.
Dr Balhaj said addicts shopped around for prescriptions from different physicians.
"We need to have a centralised system in place with pharmacies," she said. "Once I did see a pharmacist refuse to serve a patient with two prescriptions of the same drug but that is not always the case."
Dr Al Shamsi said a smartcard designed to track prescriptions was in the works, but it was not known when it would be finalised.
Dr Amin Al Amiri, the assistant undersecretary for medical practice and licensing at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry was working on an online system in which all prescription details would be recorded on a database.
Until then, prescription booklets for controlled medications had serial numbers and were only provided by the ministry, Dr Al Amiri said.
All pharmacies must lock up their drugs and keep a record of all filled prescriptions, which they must present to the ministry.
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Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder
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Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
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Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
New Zealand 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett
Conversions: B Barrett
Penalties: B Barrett
British & Irish Lions 15
Penalties: Farrell (4), Daly
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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On sale: Now
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Company%20profile
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