Doctors Group Offers To Treat Undetected Drug Addicts

KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 (Bernama) -- A group of doctors is offering to treat undetected drug addicts who are either too shy or afraid to seek medical help to kick their habit.
Called "Doctors Who Care", the programme initiated by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Association of Malaysia (FPMPAM) has already signed up more than 300 doctors and psychiatrists nationwide.
It will be launched on July 20.
FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow, who is the programme organising chairman, said in a statement Wednesday it would provide an alternative channel to reach out to these addicts, believed to number more than 18,000.
He said this figure was calculated based on the 4,834 new addicts detected in May by the National Drug Agency and the United Nations estimate that four addicts went undetected for every one arrested.
"While the government grapples for a solution to counter the surge of drug use and the spread of HIV/AIDS, we hope to address the treatment of undetected addicts who lack support and prevent a further loss of a generation to drugs," he said.
The cost of treatment would be borne by the patient and the amount would depend on the treatment period and medication required, he added.
Dr Chow said the first phase of the programme was to inform the public of its panel of doctors across the country, accessible via www.no2drugs.org.
According to him, social workers have found that many of these undetected addicts were lower to middle class youths and many of them avoided the existing rehabilitation programme for fear of loss of income, productive work and a permanent record which might harm their future.
The programme, he said, would target improved access and quality of treatment by providing a referral network of doctors, psychiatrists and substance abuse prevention counsellors trained in addiction medicine.
"Patients will be supplied with the latest in addiction medicine that will allow them to maintain their jobs and kick their habit.
"By permitting them to maintain a level of normalcy in their lives, we believe this will boost their chances of living a drug-free life," he said.