MUSCAT: If you think only men are into drugs in Oman, you are completely mistaken. Drug addiction has increased steadily among women, especially teenagers.

Drug abuse and addiction are a major burden to Omani society and has been causing serious social problems. It is, in fact, a global problem that threatens human’s life.

Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Zedjali who has been helping addicts give up their habit for the last 12 years, while speaking to Times of Oman said, “Drugs has claimed many lives. Life has taught me a lot. When two brothers and friends became drug addicts, I thought I must do something about it.

“So I did my best to spread awareness among people and help those who need. One of my brothers overcame drugs addiction but unfortunately the other brother who is aged 50-years old still suffers and is on medication now.”

Al Zedjali informed that he came across a boy aged 11-years old who was found using hashish. “In June, six men aged 25 and less died because of drug abuse,” he informed. While the number of men drug addicts in Oman is increasing significantly it has been shocking for Zedjali to come across women too. “I am currently dealing with seven women who are drug addicts. Among them there are those who are married. They have been influenced by their addict husbands. Dealing with women addicts is much more difficult than dealing with men because of the society we live in. While these seven women came to me seeking help, there are others who are registered in Ministry of Health, Ibn Sina Hospital and Royal Oman Police,” he said.

“It is true that our society does not accept the fact that there are women who falling into the trap of drugs in a country like Oman, but it is a fact. At the end of it, a woman is a human being and she can be affected easily. Unfortunately, it is always emotions that weaken woman,” she says.

Most often it is the men who introduce women to drugs. Al Zedjali explained, “It could be that the woman might know a man (drug abuser or dealer) who might deceive her in the name of “love”. Within days, he gets her hooked to drugs. Women must realise that when a man truly loves her, he would never get her into the cruel world of drugs.”

Al Zedjali said, he had met some male addicts who are proud of having ‘girlfriends’ who are addicted like them. “This is really shocking. Love is really blind. I just wonder, how a man can entice a woman in the name of ‘love’ and get her involved in drugs world. “A number of teenagers (girls), who were cheated by their male friends, came to me asking for help because they needed someone to listen to them as they were scared to go to the concerned authorities. Addicts should understand that even concerned authorities will help if they go by themselves to seek for help,” he pointed out.

He also said that in some cases a girl gets addicted to illegal prescription drugs, and by days the body requests for stronger substances.

All of the females who came to me for help are heroine and morphine addicts in different ways, he noted.

“It is so sad because these are the most dangerous types of drugs. In fact, a girl would start with a cigarette, then passes by hashish, alcohol, drug pills, morphine, and heroine in various ways.” Al Zedjali shared the last case he received recently of a woman and her husband who got addicted to drugs. “The last case I received is of a woman and her husband who are currently using heroine injections. Earlier they managed money to get the drugs, but nowadays they started to steal from the house and outside the house to get the needed doses. Sadly, their situation is really bad,” Al Zedjali said.

“Sometimes, the addiction to drugs may lead the addicted person to offering his wife to a drug dealer and in return he gets the doses that both he and his wife needs. This is sadly the truth and maybe will continue to happen if we don’t start awareness programme,” he added.

Drugs got power

Every resident and citizen in the country should watch out for signs among their children, Al Zedjali noted. “Unfortunately, some families underestimate the power of drugs. They believe that their kids have grown up in a safe environment. However, drugs have the power of entering into any house these days. Therefore, parents must be cautioned and monitor their kids no matter how much they trust their kids. Plus, there should always be religious commitment in every family,” Al Zedjali said. “We need people to help us in dealing with these addicts as they are patients who need help. There is Al Hayat Association, which is concerned in dealing with drug addicts. The association needs support from the society to help these patients and protect others to get into the trap,” Al Zedjali added.

To contact with Mohammed Al Zedjali, Call 99321321