Gov't finances small projects for citizens recovered from drug addiction

CAIRO – 5 June 2019: Ministry of Social Solidarity said it has given loans for citizens who have successfully recovered from drug addiction, estimated at LE 1.76 million, to help them establish small projects.

Amr Othman, assistant solidarity minister, has granted checks of LE 160,000 for people who recovered from addiction to fund their projects, which included a supermarket and a shop for motorbikes' accessories and spare parts.

According to the protocol between the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction and the Nasser Social Bank, the funding needed to implement micro and small projects for people who recovered from addiction is provided via hotline number 16023 for the purpose of achieving social integration, the ministry said.

This step is one of the most important steps of the medical and psychological treatment from addiction, as it reduces chances of relapse, the ministry added.

In March, Nader Saad, Cabinet's spokesman, said drug abusers working in the administrative departments of the state have the chance to go for treatment in the state's specialized centers, adding that they will be treated confidentially and at the state's expense.

In an interview with Wael al-Ebrashi and Kholoud Zahran, Saad affirmed that these abusers still have the chance to ask for treatment without facing any penalties before a criminalizing law is enacted, stressing that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli proposed that drug abusers and addicts receive equal punishment in the planned law.

He said that state employees and railway workers will face termination in case they tested positive for drugs, adding that those who reject to take drug tests will face penalties that may reach termination.