PESHAWAR, Oct 31: Indifferent attitude of family members to drug addicts is the main obstacle to the latter’s rehabilitation, doctors told Dawn on Friday.

Doctors believe that more than 80 per cent addicts are abandoned by their families after they get admitted to hospitals for treatment.

“Drug addicts need moral support to strengthen their will power during the course of treatment,” said a psychiatrist.

According to him, in 2002 about 1,400 drug addicts, including 1,100 heroin addicts, 150 opium users, 100 hashish and 50 poly-drug users were treated at different hospitals that had no more than 30 beds for addicts.

However, 80 per cent addicts reverted to using heroin, because their family members did not support them, he added.

About 10 per cent addicts happened to be women, mostly in their late 60s who were opium addicts and sought treatment because they were going to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

At the time of treatment addicts are given vocational, occupational and religious therapies so that those who are employed could resume their jobs immediately after they have undergone the treatment.

First three days of the treatment are a bit difficult, because addicts quit drugs and start taking medicines. Apart from anti-depressant medication they are also treated symptomatically.

Doses are gradually reduced after three days during their 10-day detoxification at the hospital. They also need a mental three-month treatment at home and are required to remain in touch with doctors for one year.

“All this is possible when the family support is there. The main problem is lack of family support for addicts, which generally hampers their treatment,” said a doctor.

Some people, doctors say, also use drugs to improve their working potency, and in the process get addicted.

The withdrawal symptoms of heroin and opium addicts include bodyache, sleeplessness, hunger, sneezing, yawning, diarrhoea, constipation, restlessness, disorientation and vomiting.

“Once these patients are admitted to hospitals there is no one to look after them. Food, being vital for such patients, is not available at hospitals since the government stopped provision of free food in 1995,” said a doctor.

“The only thing which could make their treatment a real success is the support of their families,” he added.