“Drug abuse one of most serious problems in Europe”

Staff Reporter THE conclusions of the 22nd World Congress of Therapeutic Communities, which brought more than 1'200 drugs specialists to Palma, were presented at the Pueblo Español yesterday. Albert Sabatés, the chairman of Proyecto Hombre, stressed the importance of treating prisoners with drug addictions in therapeutic communities outside the jail, as this favours their rehabilitation. In the United States, there have been many experiments in the treatment of prisoners with drug problems, and they were discussed at the Forum, which also debated the problem of teenage drug abuse. Isidore Obot, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert on drugs, said that drug abuse is one of the most serious problems affecting Europe and developing countries.He said that many young Europeans indulge in binge drinking and the WHO is trying to change these habits. He also spoke of the repercussions of drug taking in the rise in number of AIDS cases. He added that it was necessary to provide more information, to prevent “the stigma associated with the world of drugs” keeping people from seeking treatment. Obot said that the WHO plans to organise an international convention to debate the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol, with the purpose of defining stricter controls for the sale and advertising of these products. Bartomeu Catalá, who chaired the congress and is also head of Proyecto Hombre in the Balearics, said that the Forum had provided academic and scientific input for the work carried out in the therapeutic communities and he stressed the importance of spiritual and ethical values in the development of these centres. The communities should promote research and evaluate their results. One of the chief conclusions of the congress was that treatment in therapeutic communities is efficient and is a benefit for society. It also stressed the importance of the prevention of drug taking. Catalá said that 30 years ago, when the therapeutic communities were started, they were ahead of their time, but now they have an extraordinary scientific base. More than 200 papers were delivered at the congress which lasted for five days and was attended by 1'252 experts from 62 countries. Great emphasis was placed on the human aspect: “People aren't objects. Work in a therapuetic community has to have ethical characteristics of respect towards everyone, no matter what they are like, where they come from, or what their past history has been,” Català said. Another aspect which was studied was the evolution in the communities, which have been modified and adapted to work with specific sectors of the population, including problem teenagers, addicted mothers, prisoners and addicts with mental problems or illnesses such as AIDS.