Egypt's Addiction Treatment and Abuse Fund provides services to over 66K in 5 months

CAIRO – 6 June 2024: The Ministry of Social Solidarity released a report Thursday showcasing that the Addiction Treatment and Abuse Fund had provided services to 66,147 former and current patients, and that varied between consultations, treatment, rehabilitation, and social reintegration.

Service recipients included 8,208 residents of alternative-housing neighborhoods, which were built for former slum dwellers. Those belonged to the neighborhoods of Asmarat, Mahrousa, Rawdet El Sudan, Rawdet El Sayeda, Ahalina, Istabl Antar, October Gardens, Khayala, Alexandria's Bashayer El Kheir and Port Said's Al Dawahy.

The fund has 30 centers distributed among 19 governorates. The highest number of patients who sought help came from Cairo (30.53%) and Giza (16.79%) as they are the most populous. Of all patients, the percentage of males and females was 96.62% and 3.38%, respectively.

As for age groups, 15.81% of patients are aged between 15 and 20; 38.23% aged between 21 and 30; and 37.93% aged between 31 and 40. The substances used include hash, heroin, recreational drugs, strox, voodoo, cocaine, El Chapo, and tramadol. The report pointed out that some patients used more than one type of drug.