Oman 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 responded to a growing drug problem with new laws in 2015, but while the rest of the world has moved towards more liberal drug laws, Oman stiffened its penalties for drug crimes. While the death penalty was previously only pursued in cases involving over 50 kg. of illegal narcotics, the new law invoked this ultimate punishment for anyone convicted of trafficking or dealing in narcotics. It also stipulated a hefty fine and 6 months in jail for failing to provide a blood or hair sample to police. In this climate of violent repression, the fear drug addicts must live with is unimaginable.
Yet in spite of draconian anti-drug laws, recreational drug use and addiction still exist in Oman.The authorities are concerned as seizures of drugs, the numbers of registered addicts, and the numbers of young people experimenting with illegal substances has steadily grown over the past two decades. While Oman has worked to create drug treatment infrastructure, the risks for addicts exposing themselves to increased police scrutiny and the stigma attached to drug use in an extremely conservative society make treatment abroad an extremely attractive option for Omanis who are looking to end their addictions.
For women, accessing drug treatment in Oman is fraught with still more barriers. The social stigma directed towards female drug users is intense, and family pressure and concerns over reputation force many to suffer in silence. While addiction treatment is free, it can only be obtained at the Al Massara Psychiatric Hospital in Muscat. Their substance abuse wing offers in-patient treatment and a halfway house for male patients, while female addicts are treated in the female psychiatric ward. If you’re a female addict in Oman, you actually need to seek treatment abroad if you’re looking for a dedicated facility with a staff that specializes in addiction rehabilitation.
Why Are Addicts From Oman 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.
Oman has remained stubbornly and predictably resistant to harm-reduction. Popular opinion still holds drug users to be criminals, and a police officer actually told the Gulf News that “applying the death penalty will definitely reduce drug cases in Oman.” Methadone substitution therapy was available in Muscat for a short period in the 1990s, but the government discontinued the program. Harm Reduction International reports that Oman 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 criminal or a junkie, as you begin your recovery journey, you might want to consider seeking treatment in Portugal!
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 Oman, the lush atmosphere and abundant greenery 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 instead of the single psychiatric hospital designated for addiction treatment in Oman. 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 Oman. We have found that our clients from the Middle East treasure the sense of absolute privacy as 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 Oman 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 Oman 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-judgemental environment for facilitating recovery and personal-growth.
In addition to offering ibogaine and psilocybin 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