May I refer to the letter entitled The perils of drug abuse and the only solution, by Ms Valerie Borg (TMID 30 June).

The author of this letter stated that drug users “should be forced (…) against their will” into a centre for drug addicts.

While it is of utmost importance to work constantly against substance abuse, one cannot coerce anyone into treatment.

Forcing the persons into treatment against their will does not automatically mean that the drug problem and all problems related to it, including criminality, will decrease, or even, be eradicated.

Coercion into treatment involves ethical issues apart from the fact that in a free society there is so much that the State can do before trespassing on the rights of the individual for self-determination.

Malta is fortunate to boast of treatment centres that rank among the best in Europe. In many cases they exceed in quality to those of more developed countries.

The continuum of services that agencies in Malta and in particular sedqa agency provide, enable the client to move with relative ease from one phase to another of the treatment process. There is no quick fix. Only drugs provide a quick fix, albeit temporarily and with serious consequences.

Moreover it is not only the continuum of service that enables many individuals to kick the addiction problem but the quality and the input of a wide spectrum of professionals ranging from medical personnel to psycho-social professionals namely psychologists and social workers.

These professionals work in teams to address the various issues that the clients face.

However the role of the family is critical as well as the will of the individual to collaborate with the treatment team and find the strength to make an effort.

It is a slow process, requiring a lot of patience that often takes years. The progress is incremental and it happens one step at a time. Often clients fail and the treatment team picks up where they would have left off before the lapse.

In lay terms we can take the horse to the water, encourage it to drink but we can never make it drink.

That is always a personal decision. However when finally the client realises that he or she can make it, they would be convinced that it was their achievement and not coercion that compelled them.

sedqa constantly surveys the sector in a scientific manner and comparisons made with our counterparts in Europe. Our heroin population appears to have stabilised although the percentage of Maltese drug addicts who use heroin as opposed to other drugs, is higher than in other countries.

It also appears that Maltese drug addicts seek treatment and they tend to do this much earlier than their European counterparts.

This effectively means that Maltese drug addicts find treatment services in Malta accessible and of quality.

Finally we have to distinguish between drug addict and drug abuser. Not all drug abusers are drug addicts, and not all drug abusers abuse the same drugs, and not all drugs are illegal, and legal drugs are not necessarily less harmful to health than illegal drugs.

Alcohol is a case in point.

Moreover drug abusers may have other health conditions that materially affect their ability to recover. Mental health is a case in point.

Therefore both the preventive and treatment strategies have to vary according to the drug of abuse and the age and the circumstances of the case, to mention a few.

This reinforces the argument that drug addiction is both serious and complex to deal with and treat. Therefore no matter how passionate one can be to save the lives of drug addicts, no quick fix has yet been discovered.

As with all that is available, Maltese drug addicts are served well. Having said this improvement and development are a constant feature at sedqa and the other addiction prevention agencies.

We consider ourselves privileged to be able to serve our clients as we do.

Printed material on several topics related to substance abuse, published by the agency, can be collected for free from local councils, health centres, and other public places, or from the sedqa head office.

sedqa offers its care services both within the community and in residential settings. People requiring help regarding problems related to substance abuse can be referred, refer themselves to these services or access more information by calling helpline 151, or by visiting the agency’s website www.sedqa.gov.mt

Rosalie Vella Piscopo

Communications Officer

sedqa