The United Arab Emirates has a unique and particularly painful drug problem. The country puts other nations to shame with the intensity and relentlessness with which it pursues, prosecutes, and shames even casual drug users. Possession of cannabis for personal use can lead to lengthy jail sentences, and travelers have been jailed even for trace amounts of drugs on the soles of their shoes! The country even prosecutes based on the results of blood and urine tests, meaning you can face jail time for the residue of a weekend jaunt to Amsterdam. In fact, one British tourist was jailed in 2005 for having codeine, a common and generally legal painkiller, in her system. If this is the country’s response to the presence of trace amounts of marijuana or Tylenol 3s, the fear drug addicts must live with is unimaginable.
Yet in spite of draconian anti-drug laws and a paucity of addiction treatment in UAE, recreational drug use and addiction still exist in Abu Dhabi and its surroundings. Recently a group of men was arrested with a cache of 1.2 million pills. Last year the government cautioned parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drug use and addiction, as more and more young people are experimenting with illegal substances. While UAE does have a law stating that addicts who willingly go to the police asking for help with substance abuse will not be prosecuted, the risks for addicts exposing themselves or seeking addiction treatment in UAE can often result in increased police scrutiny and the stigma attached to drug use in an extremely conservative society make treatment abroad an extremely attractive option.
Why Are Addicts From UAE Looking To Portugal For Answers?
Portugal was in the midst of an epidemic of heroin addiction when they made the dramatic decision to embrace the principles of harm-reduction and decriminalize the consumption of all drugs. As one of the architects behind Portugal’s new approach explains it: “We realized we were squandering resources. It made much more sense for us to treat drug addicts as patients who needed help, not as criminals.” By removing the threats of prosecution and incarceration, Portugal has reduced the stigma surrounding addiction, and the number of addicts receiving treatment has increased by 60% since 1998. The results the country has achieved simply by treating addicts with dignity and viewing addiction as a health issue has caused countries such as Canada, Switzerland, and Germany to embrace harm-reduction. Portugal’s clear-headed, compassionate approach to treating addiction makes it an ideal destination for those attempting to overcome substance-abuse problems.
Policymakers and providers of addiction treatment in UAE have remained stubbornly and predictably resistant to harm-reduction. Popular opinion still holds drug users to be criminals, and the police produce a quarterly magazine called “Nation Without Drugs.” Harm Reduction International reports that, even though the country has some publicly funded addiction treatment options, it provides “exclusively abstinence-based detoxification services.”
In this climate, the stigma of being an addict in a society which views drug use very harshly acts as an obstacle to sorely needed treatment. If word gets out, relationships, families, and careers can suffer irreparable harm. If you’re looking to be treated with dignity and respect, experience compassionate care, and maintain your privacy, going abroad might be your best option. If you’d prefer to be treated as a person in need of care, rather than a junkie, as you begin your recovery journey, you might want to consider seeking treatment in Portugal as a more appealing option than addiction treatment in UAE!
What Are The Benefits Of Treatment Abroad?
1) Environment
Leaving an environment full of familiar stressors and temptations can have a beneficial effect in treatment, and Portugal is a great place to recover from the traumas related to addiction. It’s a picturesque country with a lovely Mediterranean climate. It’s dotted with quaint villages, ancient ruins, majestic castles, and miles of beautiful coastline. And there are few regions better suited to recovering your health than Portugal’s sun-drenched Alentejo region. A land of rolling hills and vast plains, the Alentejo offers visitors the opportunity to recover their health and connections to the natural world by riding horses, watching birds, stargazing, hiking, and cycling. Many visitors are especially appreciative of the temperate climate, peaceful lifestyle, and delicious regional fare, all while feeling at home with a climate, culture, and society that is familiar enough to feel welcoming. For many visitors from the hectic metropolitan environs of Abu Dhabi, the atmosphere of rural Portugal is incredibly soothing and relaxing. And you’ll experience these benefits while enjoying a rehab facility that rivals a luxurious resort or hotel for a fraction of the cost of treatment back home. You’ll disconnect from a toxic environment and share amazing new experiences with people from all around the world!
2) Privacy
While increasing numbers of people are coming to the understanding that addiction is a medical issue, there is still a significant social and professional stigma that comes with seeking treatment for substance abuse. If you head to Portugal, it’s easy to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that you’re off on a much-needed vacation and avoid awkward conversations and prying questions. There’s also no risk that someone will spot you emerging from a clinic or support group meeting and start whispering. Because the Quran specifically forbids the use of alcohol and drugs, the social stigma associated with drug use is especially harsh in the UAE. For clients from the Emirates, the sense of absolute privacy is an invaluable aid to treatment.
3) Promising Treatments Unavailable At Home
We’ve written a lot about the undeniable power of ayahuasca and ibogaine to combat the addictive properties of opioids and other drugs and to open the addicted mind to the idea of a positive transformation into sobriety. Because Portugal has decriminalized all drugs, promising treatments that cannot be obtained in a safe medical setting in UAE can be accessed here with the supervision of health-care professionals. While ibogaine can be used safely if the proper screening precautions and medical supervision are in place, we would recommend that any residents of the UAE desiring the treatment look abroad for responsible clinics with comprehensive safety guidelines.
4) Easy Intake
When you’ve reached rock bottom, a treatment center that can quickly start the process of detox and recovery can be a life-saver. The prospect of waiting months for the in-patient treatment you need can be a heart-breaking, motivation-sapping roadblock. Treatment centers abroad can immediately start the intake process, allowing you to strike back at your addiction when you’re feeling hopeful and motivated. This can make all the difference in the world! What’s more, there won’t be any stressful interactions with the police, and other branches of law-enforcement as you begin your new life.
Tabula Rasa Retreat
At Tabula Rasa Retreat we have a unique ability to accommodate clients from around the world with our welcoming, open-minded, and international staff. You’d be hard-pressed to find a treatment center more committed to the safety of their clients than Tabula Rasa Retreat. We’re also deeply committed to maintaining a supportive and non-judgmental environment for facilitating recovery and personal growth.
In addition to offering ibogaine treatment, we also provide a wide array of holistic treatments, including breathwork, kundalini yoga, equine-assisted therapy, kambo, and more. All of these practices are extremely beneficial for re-energizing both body and spirit to pursue recovery. In combination with our ten-hectares of outdoor space, large terraces, and outdoor swimming pool, we let nature remind our clients to be grateful and receptive for new horizons and second chances. We have many testimonials from people around the globe who’ve benefited immeasurably from experiencing our treatments in beautiful, sunny Portugal. If you’d like to experience treatment abroad, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
For further information visit www.tabularasaretreat.com or call PT +351 965 751 649 UK +44 7961 355 530