In the UAE, drug addicts who turn themselves in will be treated as "patients" and not "criminals," Article 43 of Federal Law 14 for the year 1995 (Anti-Drug Law). This makes the country one of the only Arab states to have a rehabilitative and not punitive approach to drug use.
In an article published by The National in 2014, a study revealed that drug-use disorders in the country rose by 526 percent in the last 30 years, although the number of drug users was not available.
To combat this, Dubai Police has released a six-minute video titled "A Soul's Tale" and it's a very sentimental one.
The video tells the story of a man named Hamad, who follows the footsteps of a close cousin who is a regular drug user. Following his curiosity, the man falls in too deep with drugs, ultimately leading to his death.
"Drug addicts need the support of the whole community and their families to address the situation they have reached… to enable them to resume their normal life," said Ali Al Marzouqi, Director of the Public Health and Research Department at the National Rehabilitation Center in Abu Dhabi, according to Gulf News .
Such a high statistic rings true, despite the fact that in 2008, the UAE was listed as the country with the "longest list of banned substances," according to The Guardian . The list includes commonly found drugs such as anti-depressants and codeine.
"The services provided for addicts in the country are among the best in the advanced world and follow the best international standards," said Marzouqi, according to The National .
The NRC in Abu Dhabi is one of those services. In a study released by the rehabilitation center, children as young as 12 are being treated for drug abuse.
The rehabilitation center provides treatment services, education services as well as rehabilitation services.