No legal action taken if drug user is reported

Lack of awareness among many parents and the fear of imprisonment of their drug addict kids force many parents hide these cases from police. This eventually makes it very difficult for these addicts to quit addiction, and in many cases loss of life occurs due to overdose, a top Dubai Police official said. Major General Abdul Jaleel Mahdi, Director General of Dubai Police Anti-Narcotics Department told Emirates 24|7 that as per article No 43, if the parents, friends, sister or brother of a drug addict informed the police about the addiction case, Dubai Police will not open a file of the addict and will help in curing him or her from addiction. “We deal with such cases in secrecy. If the parents, or even the friend of a drug addict come to us and tells us about any case, then we help them in saving the life and future of that addict. We do not take any legal action against them.” He added that they send them to special rehabilitation centres where they are assisted and helped to quit drug addiction. “Parents, family or friends of drug addicts can call [ 800 400400 ] and report these cases. They will get prompt response and help. It will be a confidential thing, and no one will come to know about it. We have helped large number of drug addicts through this system.” He added: “Unfortunately, a large number of parents are unaware of the seriousness of drugs addiction. For example, sometimes when our officers go to a house to arrest a drug addict based on our information, the mother hides her son in the cupboard or in other places in the house. They don’t realise that they are putting their kids in danger. In many cases, the same son who’s mother tried to hide him from police was found dead in his bedroom due to overdose.”